New England Grassroots Environment Fund

Group Resources

Souper Bowl Fundraiser Invitation Email
Mad River Valley Foodshed Database
Eating Local Foods in Addison Valley Guide & Cookbook
Eat Local Challenge Starter Kit
Localvore Recipe Database
Eat Well Guide
Localvore Teacher Resource Packet
Mad River Localvore Valley Project 2009 Educational Activities

Group Details

The Mad River Valley Localvore Project educates people about the importance of rebuilding and strengthening local food systems and carries out its mission by holding quarterly Localvore campaigns. The Project primarily targets education messages to food consumers, but also reach out to local schools, restaurants, innkeepers, and food producers who are responding to increased demand. The Mad River Valley Localvore Project also occasionally works to preserve and increase agricultural resources in the Mad River Valley. The goal of the organization is a more self-sufficient local food economy that is fostered by greater consumer awareness and demand for locally produced food. The Eat Local Challenge is an event where participants pledge to eat only locally grown and produced foods. Participants will have the option of choosing to pledge by the meal (one or more meals), by the day (one or more days), or for the entire week.

The group’s success so far is the increasing participation of hundreds of residents in numerous Eat Local Challenges, resulting in the increased sales of/greater demand for local farm products such as meat, eggs, milk, cheese, vegetables, fruits, honey, and maple syrup and greater demand of local food in area grocery stores and local schools.

The group, located in Waitsfield (VT), received its latest NEGEF in December 2008 to increase the awareness of the importance of eating local food and supporting the local food economy through educational activities.