Can The Localvores Redeem Themselves?

Localvores, Cliques and A Bad Taste In My Mouth

With all the trouble that the economy is in can the localvore movement continue as a self-infatuated clique or will the movement have to progress to something useful?

I live in New Hampshire on the border of Vermont in an area known as the Upper Valley. The Upper Valley is unique because with interstate school districts and shared resources it really is the best and worst of both states. I have been developing solutions to help locally owned independent businesses survive and thrive for years with most of my energy focuses outside of the area. I learned early on that many of the most vocal members of a group will take on membership in that group not to assert change but to service their own egos. I feel that the localvore movement was born out of that same ideology. Take on a label and then act in opposition to the majority to try and prove your superiority. I've seen that not just with localvores but with many other groups in places I've lived from Olympia, Wa to Birmingham, England.

As our economy, fails buying and eating locally will become more and more important to the survival of our economy; but our current and most local propoents of these actions are unable and unwilling to move the notion to the masses.

Where Can Localvores Go From Here?

Here are some things I think locavores should be doing in the Upper Valley.

• Promote and implement a low income CSA. Healthy food should not just be for the wealthy and opinionated.
• Promote farm stand acceptance of WIC checks.
• Work with the less affluent schools in the Upper Valley to incorporate locally grown organic food into the school lunch program.