February 19, 2016 09:15 AM UTC

Drink and Act Locally

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• by: ColoFarmFood

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance networks Colorado family farms, winemakers, brewers, food producers, chefs, restaurateurs, and consumers—Working together to advocate for a balanced approach to resource use that supports: sustainable and secure local food systems, healthy lands and clean water, and a resilient farm, food, and drink economy.

We are a newly incorporated nonprofit in Colorado, and we are not yet engaged in any of the potential ballot measures that might be of interest to our constituents.

But we are considering getting involved in the effort to change Colorado’s liquor laws.  Because enhancing local food systems, and the placed-based economies that such support, is a top priority for our organization.

Big-Grocery (Kroger, Inc., Walmart, etc.) sells exclusive shelf space and not only product.  As we see Big-Beer (InBev, MoslonCoors, etc.) buy out small breweries it seems a real risk that the variety of small, locally produced beers, Colorado wines, and craft spirits will be mostly shut out in exchange for carefully marketed faux-microbrews, fewer Colorado wines, and  Big-Booze spirits.

The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance connects rural communities, food and drink producers, and consumers across the state “in the field and on the plate” to support policy that enhances sustainability and long-term food security.

Our mission is to encourage the availability of healthy, locally sourced foods to all communities in Colorado paired with a core message and actions to support a sustainable local food system.

Strengthening local food systems means safeguarding the health of the land and supplies of clean water, and addressing climate change. It also means supporting local business, local food and drink production, and local communities.

Our partners are businesses and associations, family farms and markets, local restaurants and producers, wineries, brewers, boutique distilleries, rural food and economic groups, and others that understand protecting Colorado’s environment protects our family farm and local food economy.

By educating rural and urban communities from “farm to table” we bring a call to action along with locally sourced food and drink, to the tables of Coloradans across the state.

And while we have not yet formally joined any efforts around the 2016 ballot in Colorado, many of our supporters and partners are already engaged.

Because if we care about placed-based economies and secure food systems, its time to Drink and Act Locally.