Is Your Dollar "Green" ?

I began my morning like this:

After a casual conversation with a colleague yesterday, I realized he grew my and one America's favorite apple varieties: Honey Crisps. A verbal agreement was made, and by 8:30 a.m. this morning I had 10 lbs of fresh, Utah grown apples sitting at my office door.

My mid-morning consisted of touring the "People's Garden" located at Farm Country Thanksgiving Point. Here are some interesting signs I read:

My morning ended with touring the Junior Master Gardeners programs at Thanksgiving point. They were courtesy enough to send me home with fresh basil and tomatoes from their pizza garden, carrots and even a cantaloupe. I. was. in. heaven.

















With all the creations of food I had seen this morning, I had to add my own.  The subjects of my photo were all grown within 30 miles of the Utah Department of Agriculture Food, the most urbanized area of Utah. The photo's title, you ask? The title of my blog post of course:

Is YOUR dollar Green?!

Take a moment to consider the miracle of our food supply. Everything above came off a tree, or the ground this morning (except for the money, of course)! There are no stamps in the passports of this produce. Its 100 percent Utah Grown. A result of hard working families and students putting their energy to good use.

So, readers, let's be honest with ourselves. We spent countless hours telling our neighbors how important it is to "buy local." We may even sport a cute little recyclable Harmon's or Whole Foods Shopping Bag as we rush from errand to errand; and yes, we may even show up to a community garden party. Yet, in all our efforts to "go green" with conserved energy, environmentally safe containers and cleaners, are we forgetting the one thing that is truly sustainable: the investment of a dollar?

Consider this phrase said by Steve DeJohn of Lehi Roller Mills:

"As consumers make their decision in the local grocery store or local restaurant, they are voting with their dollar, if a local company stays in business or goes out of business "

Applied to local Utah agriculture, how have you been casting your vote?

Your thoughts will reveal the true color of your dollar.

I hope its green.