The UM Office of Sustainability is hosting an OXCM Low-Carbon Shopping Night to highlight the sustainability of shopping locally and the amazing work OXCM provides for our community. The Oxford Community Market is a passionate nonprofit organization focused on food access. Their programs make healthy, local food accessible to all people in our community, especially those facing barriers of cost and transportation. There are several reasons to support OXCM, read on to learn more.
Low Carbon Shopping Night Menu
Sustainable Farming – OXCM Vendor Highlights
NATIVE SON FARM
ALDRIDGE FARM
Aldridge Fam ONLY TRAVELS 35 MILES to bring their eggs, jelly, and sweet treats to the market. Mr. Stark Aldridge also takes special care of his chickens which he houses in a large hen house with plenty of space to roam.
FUDGETOWN FARM
Fudgetown Farm keeps our environment clean by utilizing ORGANIC POTTING SOIL for their plants, avoiding synthetic fertilizers, and ONLY TRAVELS 5 MILES to sell at the OXCM market.
FALKNER FARMS
Falkner Farm is a local, REGENERATIVE FARM that feeds its cattle with a grass diet and raises its chickens on a pasture.
POULTRY IN MOTION
Poultry in Motion harvests ALL ORGANIC PRODUCE and ONLY TRAVELS 36 MILES to deliver their items to the OXCM.
The Benefits of Shopping Local
1) Decreasing your Carbon Footprint:
The more food travels, the more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere as a by-product of transporting food from distant communities. Products travel about 1,000 miles on average to end up in retail stores. Our OXCM vendors grow and bake locally which decreases fossil fuel emissions as vendors like Fudgetown Farm and Live Again Events only travel 5 miles to get to the market.
2) Supporting your Community:
For every $1 spent locally, 68¢ is reinvested in the community. This is 20¢ more than what would be put back into the community if you spent that same dollar in a supermarket chain store. By supporting local vendors, you are supporting your whole community.
3) Healthy Living:
Eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains goes a long way to promote a healthy lifestyle. Local food is grown seasonally and is, on average, more nutrient dense than other retail sources with more taste to boot!
Sources and Additional Resources:
- Farmers Market Coalition – Farmers Markets Promote Sustainability
- Civic Economics- The Andersonville Case Study of Retail Economics
- Sustainable Living- Why You Should Shop at the Farmers Market
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