More St. Louisans paying attention to their food geography

KSDK -- Most Americans give little thought to their grocery experience short of keeping track of the amount spent. But now there is a growing number of Americans who are not only paying attention to their food budgets, but their food geography.

The reasons vary, but some watching the growing movement of "local food" point to recent newsworthy events, such as nationwide recalls of organically grown spinach or massive salmonella poisonings inside peanut processing plants in Georgia, this, some say, highlights what they call the "failure of the industrial food system."

No matter the cause, a growing number of consumers are changing how they shop, cook and eat. They're saying no to traditional groceries where food of unknown origin fills their carts, and instead are turning to food grown locally, usually within a hundred miles or less.

One such place seeing growing numbers of "local food" consumers is Fair Shares, located in south St. Louis, but with members throughout the metropolitan area. Fair Shares CCSA is a partnership between consumers and farmers. It's a non-profit organization dedicated to getting fresh, local, seasonal food into the hands of more St. Louisans, regardless of their income.

"It is designed to feature local farmers and educate people about why they should be supporting local farmers and why knowing what you're eating is important," said CCSA co-founder Sara Hale. Hale and her sister Jaime, started Fair Shares to advocate for local farmers and the food they produce.

"We've always been interested in local. And when we first started this and were just getting ready to launch this a year ago February, the same day - on the front page - a big beef recall in California was called. People started getting scared, "what are we feeding our family," and that's when people really started paying attention," said Hale.

Here's how it works. Fair Shares is working with local farmers and producers. Each week, they collect, organize and distribute a well-rounded example locally produced foods available in St. Louis all year long. Members of Fair Shares know who produces all the food. In 2009 225 St. Louis families became members, each paying an average of $50.00 a week to receive a share of the food brought in.

Members pick up food weekly and say they're pleased with the amounts and the quality of the shares. but mostly they like knowing exactly where it came from.

"I'm just really surprised, stuff that I thought came from further away is grown within a hundred miles from here. it's been really interesting for me to expand my whole food pallet," said Rachel Tourais, who joined Fair Shares just this year.

Rice from Bernie, Missouri, preserves from Augusta, potato chips from right here in St. Louis. Fair Shares gets food from 73 area producers, but only when they have product to sell, so there is a risk.

"We keep track of what that is, whether we're over or under and make sure it's all even at the end," said Hale.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a family of four spends $709 a month on groceries, so for some the CCSA makes economic sense too.

"They publish the food ahead of time, so you can anticipate what you're getting. We can live of the food easily for a week, but we usually have to supplement some staples that we don't get. So it's easy to budget," said Tourais.

The CCSA is working well for customers, but those on the other side of the local food equation, like it too. "One of the big advantages to the model that Sara and Jaime have put together, is that we touch 225 people here in St. Louis by delivering to one spot," said Carl Saunders, of Yellow Dog Farms.

That and the fact farmers like Saunders get paid upon delivery means shareholders are helping to support one of our oldest American traditions - the family farm.

You can find more information about Fair Shares and other similar local food co-op operations by visiting some of the links provided on this page.