Locally Delicious: ‘The Local Food Guide is Moving to a New Home!’

This is a press release from Locally Delicious:

Photo credit: Lauren Sarabia

Locally Delicious, a non-profit organization dedicated to the evolution of a strong, sustainable local food system and its positive impact on our environment, has been producing The Local Food Guide every year since 2017.

However, producing the guide is a lot of work for a small group of seniors, and the time has come to pass this project on to a local group with more energy and resources. So Locally Delicious is delighted to announce that Cooperation Humboldt has agreed to take over publication of the guide, starting with the 2021 edition.

Tamara McFarland, who coordinates food-related activities for Cooperation Humboldt, is looking forward to the task. “We’re taking this project on because a strong, sustainable local food system is a critical piece of our organization’s vision to transform our bioregion into a thriving and regenerative society.

“We’ll be keeping many aspects of the existing guide, including the directories, while adding more information to help readers understand how critical it is to work toward true food sovereignty at this moment of climate chaos and societal uncertainty. To support budding gardeners, the new guide will also include practical information about growing food here in our region.”

Adds Ann Anderson, President of Locally Delicious: “Since 2017, The Local Food Guide has shone a spotlight on the vibrant local food here on the North Coast. The project was born of our passion for a strong, sustainable local food system and its positive impact on people and the environment.

“We’ll still be around in the background, helping out where we can to smooth the path forward. In the meantime, we truly appreciate all the support the community has given us over the years, and we hope there will be many more successful Local Food Guides in the future.”

The response from the local food community has been overwhelmingly supportive:

 Stephanie Alexandre, Alexandre Family Farm – “Thank you for the bottom of our family’s hearts for all your efforts and attention to our local produced foods! … Your work is so appreciated and you made a great choice in passing it on to Cooperation Humboldt.”

Toni Stoffel, Moonshadow Farm – “Thank you for all of the love and effort you have put in over the years! As a small farm, it has helped us greatly!”

Matt Drummond, Redwood Community Action Agency – “The Food Guide has been such a valuable resource for so many.”

Rhonda Wiedenbeck, Beck’s Bakery (and this year’s cover girl) – “I love the folks at Cooperation Humboldt! Thank you for all that you’ve done with this and sustainable local food advocacy.”

Alissa Pattison, Gardens & Food Resources Coordinator – “Thank you all for so much hard work, dedication and care you’ve put into this project.  The Local Food Guide is a great resource for our community.  I’m glad to hear that the torch is being passed on to fellow caring and dedicated folks at Cooperation Humboldt.”

Locally Delicious will continue to work on local food security and sustainability issues, including the longstanding and successful Food for People Farmer Fund, which this year raised over $25,000 to provide healthy local food for Humboldt County residents in need.