It Takes a Village to Bring You Your Food

Hi. My name is Brigitte. I’m the 2nd from the left; the one having a bad hair day. I’d like to introduce you to a few of my friends. Meet Stacy Carlsen from Marin County Department of Agriculture, then there’s me, Brigitte Moran from Marin Farmers Market, Mike Gale from Marin County Farm Bureau, Ellie Rilla from University of California Cooperative Extension, Helge Hellberg from Marin Organic, Nancy Scolari from Marin Resource Conservation District, Bob Berner from Marin Agricultural Land Trust, and most importantly, Daisy, who represents Marin’s 10,000 strong dairy cow population.

There are thousands of farmers, ranchers, animals, and people who work on behalf of agriculture, each playing a part in bringing you your food. But the creation of a local food system depends on you, the villager.

Celebrating what’s in season, eating locally grown food, and buying direct from farmers are steps we can all take. Together we can keep small family farms alive, minimize the miles our food travels, and enjoy the freshest, most flavorful produce available. Join our village in a local food revolution. It’s a feel-good experience for your mind, your body, and your taste buds. Go ahead. Make Daisy proud.

What does your organization do for Marin Agriculture and our local food system?

Stacy Carlsen

The Marin County Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote and protect agriculture and ensure equity in the market place. We are essentially a one-stop shop for local producers. We issue the certified producer certificates, assuring that the farmers grow what they sell; we certify organic producers; and we inspect measuring devices to protect both the consumer and the seller. It’s an efficient model of the local government serving the local community.

www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/AG/main/

Brigitte Moran

Marin Farmers Market represents over 400 local farmers, artisanal food purveyors, and artists. We host the party, better known as the Farmers Market, where producers and eaters come together. Our seven markets are unique to their host communities. We work hard to provide our members with a festive place to directly market their products. We also try to keep you, the villager, up to date on what’s new in the world of food and share with you the benefits of buying locally grown.

Mike Gale

Marin County Farm Bureau has 600 members; 150 are active producers. We promote all types of agriculture whether it’s aquaculture, organic row crops, fruits and vegetables, conventional beef, grass-fed beef, organic beef, as well as conventional and organic dairy. We are very interested in expanding niche markets and getting the word out that ranchers and farmers are environmentalists committed to keeping agriculture viable in Marin County.

http://www.cfbf.com/counties/index.cfm?id=21

Ellie Rilla

The University of California Cooperative Extension staff works directly with our local agricultural community, helping them sustain their farms and ranches by providing them with ideas for diversification and tools that enhance their ability to improve their profitability and environmental stewardship. Our “Grown in Marin” program promotes everyone in our agricultural community, from organic producers, to traditional ranchers, to our start-up farmers.

http://cemarin.ucdavis.edu/

Helge Hellberg

Marin Organic is an association of organic food producers in Marin County. We address economic and environmental challenges through a variety of programs and creative solutions, which help local farmers and ranchers thrive, protect our land and water resources, and benefit the health of all residents (and all other inhabitants) in Marin County, the Bay Area, and beyond.

http://www.marinorganic.org/

Nancy Scolari

Marin Resource Conservation District restores watershed streams, wetlands, and rangelands in Marin County. We work with farmers and ranchers to help improve their soils, water, air, plants and wildlife. We recognize that we
depend on our County’s precious resources and believe that by making improvements in the way we use them, we will all benefit.

http://www.sonomamarinrcds.org/district-mc/index.html

Bob Berner

Marin Agricultural Land Trust (MALT) was the first land trust in the United States to focus on farmland preservation. One million acres of American farmland were paved over or developed last year, but in Marin County something entirely different is happening. MALT has safeguarded 38,000 acres of irreplaceable land on 57 family farms and ranches.

http://www.malt.org/

Daisy the Cow

I know all of these people and their teams are working diligently on behalf of Marin agriculture. But let’s give credit where credit is due. We dairy cows are producing some of the best milk in California and that’s no easy task. I doubt any of these Executive Directors are milked twice a day. It’s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.