Published: October 23, 2009 07:40 am      

Forum: Too many apples? Buy local

There's lots of talk about the abundant apple crop this year. And it appears the common message is this: too many apples.

I don't know about you, but something about that just doesn't sit right. With all of the labor that goes into producing a crop, aren't farmers supposed to rejoice when everything goes well ... when they have a beautiful, juicy, bumper crop?

Ask any apple farmer you know these days, and they'll tell you it's not that easy.

During particularly large crop years, such as this, companies that buy apples can be at full capacity and have to turn away fruit from our local farms. With plenty of apples from far-away places, like Washington and Chile, in addition to Michigan, they have plenty.

Many farmers look for other places to take their apples, such as donating them to local food pantries. But sometimes, with no buyers or takers in sight, farmers must resort to dumping them -- something that no farmer could possibly feel good about, and frankly, can't afford to do.

But there's something very powerful that you and I can do right now that can help our local farms. Though we may not even realize it, there's power in our purchasing hands. The items we choose to purchase truly impact the farmers in our region.

Are we buying local apples? Are we passing by those Washington apples that some stores are offering, and making a choice in honor of our northern Michigan local farmers? Are we serving local apples on our menus every day, and on our salad bars, in our desserts and in our snacks?

Is the apple beneath the caramel a hard, green one shipped from elsewhere, or is it a juicy, flavorful, local one? Don't assume the apples in the pie you're served are local. Ask.

By increasing sales at local fresh markets -- farm stands, farmers markets, grocers, schools and restaurants -- the region's farmers could increase farm revenue by $2.9 million. That can make a big difference.

Past generations celebrated such abundance with festivals ... and by preserving the harvest.

We have the festival part down.

But do we forget to savor the abundance of our food where it really counts for our health and the health of our economy -- in our daily lives? There's something about knowing where our food comes from, and knowing that the money we spend goes directly into the farmer's hand or to businesses that buy from local farmers.

Maybe it's time to gather friends and have a canning party to make batches of applesauce, apple butter and sliced apples. You'll be grateful this winter!

So buy a bushel, get out your recipes,and pack the lunch boxes, freezers,and cupboards. Let your grocers and other food buyers know you'd like them to serve you locally grown apples, too. A bounty of apples is a good thing for us. And it can be a good thing for our farms and local economy, too -- but only if we buy local.

About the author: Janice Benson is marketing coordinator for the Michigan Land Use Institute's Taste the Local Difference program, which works to grow jobs, save farmland and build healthier communities. Find local farms and learn more at www.localdifference.org.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by e-mailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.