By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Making Hoosiers more aware of Indiana-grown foods is the goal of Going Local Week 2010, Sept. 5-11, organizers said.

“The focus is on Indiana local foods and how creative can you get to support and promote them,” said Victoria Wesseler, a local food blogger, website creator and author. “We want to get people really excited about eating locally grown foods. We’re hoping Hoosiers will think about what they’re eating.”

During the week, various schools and communities across the state will participate to differing degrees, Wesseler explained. Some have planned a specific day during the week to focus on locally grown foods, and others have organized events for the whole week.

This is the third year for Going Local Week. “The first year was spent on awareness and education,” she noted. “We worked on getting a lot of publicity through the media. “Last year and this year, we’re seeing more community partnerships. We’re seeing a lot more formal activities planned.”

Demand for locally grown foods seems to be growing, said Ann Schmelzer, program manager for entrepreneurship and diversified agriculture for the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

“It’s a buying decision people feel good about,” she said. “Eating local is such a good thing to do. Going Local Week gives people a chance to think about how they can incorporate local foods into what they’re doing.

“There seems to be a growing awareness community by community. Going Local Week helps to drive interest in it.”

One gauge of the demand for locally grown foods is the number of farmers’ markets and U-pick sites in the state, Schmelzer said. The number of such entities included in a statewide directory has increased from 500 to nearly 700 in the last couple of years, she added.

Locally grown foods are fresher, taste better and have a higher nutrient content, she noted. Consumers are also concerned about what’s in the foods they eat, and purchasing locally gives them the opportunity to meet with and talk to the farmers who raise their foods, Wesseler added.

Grocery stores have responded to the demand for locally grown products, Wesseler said. “You go into the store and see signs that say the food was grown in Indiana, and you weren’t seeing those signs a couple of years ago. There’s a whole trend of wanting to eat healthier, plus, fresher foods just taste better.”

Eating locally grown foods also helps the state and local economies, Wesseler said. If half the families in the state shifted $6.25 of their weekly food budget to the purchase of locally grown foods, that would add $300 million to the local economy, she said.

“Is this impressive? Yes, but that’s not the final number. Studies consistently show that a dollar spent locally will multiply itself by three to five times, making the actual economic impact of that $1 in the local community where it was spent far greater than a buck,” she explained. “Initially it may be impossible to believe but, with a subtle shift in our food spending habits, we can make a $900 million to $1.5 billion economic impact on Indiana in one year.”

Organizers recommend several activities for Going Local Week, including visiting a farmers’ market, hosting a potluck meal featuring locally grown products or substituting fresh Hoosier fruits for pastries for the staff at work. For more ideas and information on Going Local Week, visit Wesseler’s blog at www.goinglocal-info.com

“I encourage everyone to take part in Going Local Week,” Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman said in a statement. “If you don’t already, visit a local farmers’ market this week and buy local grown produce and meats, or try Hoosier Artisan special creations such as hot sauces, delicious baked goods or Indiana wines.”

For a list of farmers’ markets and U-pick sites, go to www.in.gov/isda and click on the “Directory” link on the right side of the page.