Harford County home owners “Buy Local” and Win!

Harford County home owners have something to be proud of, in the form of a new award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). This award was given in recognition of the ‘Buy Local’ program. The entire goal of the program was to encourage residents to purchase local produce, supporting the local farmers and crops.

The program was launched in 2008, and residents were notified through a marketing campaign that included fliers, brochures, billboard signs, and a website. County executive David R. Craig expressed his pleasure at the success of the campaign, as well as the award. “We are thrilled to receive this recognition,” he said.  “It’s an acknowledgment of the aggressive push that Harford County Government has been making to raise the public’s level of awareness about the availability of locally-grown food and other agricultural products.” Harford County home owners responded wonderfully to the program.

The benefits of locally grown food are numerous, including fresher produce. The support that local farmers receive is also a huge benefit.  On the website, Harford County residents can select the kind of produce they’d like to buy locally. They will be informed of the specific types of produce available, and then directed to a list of farms that harvest the type of produce they’re interested in.  From there, they can determine when each farm is open so that they can purchase what they need, and the specific location of the farm.

The program is a win-win for residents and farmers alike. Another winner is the environment. When residents purchase locally grown produce, there is no transportation or shipping involved, which cuts down on greenhouse gases. If every county had a program like Harford County’s, the impact on the environment would be significant.

The award was announced by NACo at their annual conference in Reno, Nevada on July 18, 2010. NACo provides awards for various programs that are designed to help communities in a variety of ways. Harford County won under the category of Civic Education and Public Information.  If Harford County home owners and residents continue with the Buy Local Program, they will benefit as well as the farmers. When farmers do a good business with a particular crop, it gives them the livelihood they need to continue farming and to be able to care for their families.

There are many other things Harford County residents can do to stay healthy and help the environment.  Using public transportation options, biking when possible, and walking short distances rather than driving certainly helps. Recycling, implementing eco-friendly fixtures in their homes, and minimizing waste are all helpful. Families should consume more fruits and vegetables in their diets and stick to low-fat, vitamin-rich foods.

Congratulations to the residents of Harford County for supporting their local farmers and buying local!  If you would like more information about Harford County homes or our local achievements, please feel free to contact us at (410)808-7200 or visit our Contact Us page where you can send us a message.  We’ll get back to you right away!

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