Macomb Food Initiatives Group » Iowa State University http://macombfig.org/blog Growing a local food system Tue, 01 Jun 2010 14:21:02 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 New Study Documents Affordibility of Local Food http://macombfig.org/blog/2009/12/15/new-study-documents-affordibility-of-local-food/ http://macombfig.org/blog/2009/12/15/new-study-documents-affordibility-of-local-food/#comments Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:39:37 +0000 Dan Barclay http://macombfig.org/blog/?p=244 According to a new study published by the Leopold Center at Iowa State University the cost of locally produced food available at farmer’s markets and natural foods stores is statistically the same as non-local food available in supermarkets.  In fact, the local food was slightly less expensive than the non-local food.  The study was conducted at the peak production season for Iowa summer vegetables.  This is a strong incentive for local producers to invest in affordable greenhouse technologies such as high tunnels or hoop houses that can extend their growing season and allow them to market their produce at the best price consumers will find.  Check out this image from the White House lawn to see Michelle Obama’s hoop house that is extending the growing season of the White House organic garden right through the winter!

Ok, these low tunnels in the White House garden are more precisely referred to as row covers since they are only about 2-3 feet tall and hoop houses are usually structures that a person can walk in.  But they function the same way and are much easier to set up or remove as the circumstances warrant.

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