** Please excuse cross-postings, and please forward to appropriate media
contacts. Details, photos, etc available by contacting us at:
info@beyondorganic.com or 415-663-8343. Thanks. **
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael Straus
May 31, 2000 415-663-8343 tel
415-663-8346 fax
info@beyondorganic.com
LOCALHARVEST.ORG LAUNCHES NEW SITE CONNECTING PEOPLE & FOOD ONLINE AND
OFFLINE
SANTA CRUZ, CA -- Ocean Group formally launched today a unique way for
consumers to find fresh, locally-grown foods in neighborhoods throughout the
US.
Hungry web-surfers can now log on to find fresh produce sold directly by
farmers. This web-based resource was developed to provide a comprehensive,
one-stop real-time directory of the increasing number of farmers selling
through Farmers' Markets, Farm Stands, U-Pick Farms and Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) programs.
LocalHarvest.org meets increasing consumer demand for fresh food. The
average "fresh" produce in a grocery store is 7-14 days old and has traveled
approximately 1,400 miles to get there. Increasing public concern about the
environmental impact of long-haul transportation and consumer desire for a
healthy lifestyle point to an increasing dissatisfaction with the current
food delivery system. Many have started to change their shopping habits by
supporting farmers' markets and CSAs.
"Through LocalHarvest.org, consumers find ways to make personal connections
with farmers, enjoy 'fresh from the vine' foods, and support the local
economy," stated Erin Barnett, Project Coordinator for Local Harvest.
In the past decade, America has experienced a rapid growth in the number of
farmers markets and CSAs, although there has not been an easy way for
interested individuals to find them. According to Secretary of Agriculture
Dan Glickman, the USDA tracks over 2,500 farmers' markets across the
country. "The growth in the number of farmers' markets illustrates the
importance of the bridge between farmers and consumers."
LocalHarvest.org utilizes a sophisticated mapping service - an Open Source
Geographic Information
System (GIS) -specially customized to allow customers to "point and click"
anywhere in the United
States and get an interactive picture of where direct marketing farms are
located.
Ocean Group is an Internet engineering company committed to making
technology available to nonprofit organizations with 20% of staff time
devoted to non-commercial projects. In addition to collaborating with
nonprofit organizations, Ocean Group owns projects, such as
LocalHarvest.org, that reflect the company's values, but are not-for-profit
ventures. The company can be found on the web at www.oceangroup.com. For
more information on LocalHarvest.org or Ocean Group contact: Erin Barnett at
(831) 466-0700, or erinb@oceangroup.com.
###
++++++++++++++
Michael Straus
Beyond Organic - Public Relations & Marketing for Progressive Agriculture
22890 Highway 1, Marshall, CA 94940 USA
phone: 415-663-8343; fax: 415-663-8346
www.beyondorganic.com; info@beyondorganic.com
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