Locally Grown Produce Now On County's Menus

August 30, 2007
Joanne Haas, 267-8823
County Executive

Dane County earlier this month began purchasing locally grown produce from the Badgerland Produce Co-Op Auction for use in meals prepared by the county’s food services for the courthouse café, Badger Prairie Nursing Home and the Dane County Jail. “We are supporting our area farmers while also providing healthier food. From any angle, this is a beneficial arrangement that helps everyone,” Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said. “With the current prices at the auction, the County is also saving money -- about $200 per week. I also want to thank our Dane County Food Council for their leadership in making this productive policy possible.” The Badgerland Product Co-Op Auction is a cooperative based in Montello, Wisconsin. More than 200 Wisconsin growers participate from nine counties including Dane, Adams, Columbia, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Juneau, Waushara and Winnebago. “The produce is picked within 24 hours and sold in wholesale volume at an auction,” Falk said. “So that means it’s good for our health and good for our county budget, too.” The Dane County Food Council also is featured as a “Best Practice” in the July 2007 edition of Counties and Local Food Systems published by the National Association of Counties. # # #