What is Local?

Local for us is being a part of the Local 6, meaning a product grown, manufactured or processed by a farm or business owned and operated within the six counties touching and including Benton county (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marion & Polk).  The Local 6 program was pioneered by First Alternative Co-op and the definition has recently been adopted by the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition’s Food Action Team.  Buying from Corvallis Local Foods means buying from the Local 6.  We are proud to support the Corvallis community’s locally grown definition of local food!

Why Buy Local?

Buying from local farmers promotes the local economy, supports your friends and neighbors, reduces our use of fossil fuels, and values farmland and open space over urban sprawl. Buying local supports farmers who grow for taste, diversity, and healthfulness rather than durability, transportation and uniformity. Supporting these small farmers preserves open space, jobs, and the security of a local, healthful food supply. Knowing your local farmer has become a valued aspect of connecting with food, and with it brings relationship, accountability, and clear knowledge of how food is raised and who is raising it. You will enjoy locally grown food, picked at the family farm when its taste and nutritional value are at their peak. You will enjoy unique and flavorful heirloom varieties unavailable in mass-produced and shipped food. Still need more reasons to buy local?

Visit the Ten Rivers Food Web or Willamette Farm & Food Coalition websites for more information.