Dennis McDonald Talks Local Food with Rotary

The February 9 program at Iowa Great Lakes Rotary was presented by Spirit Lake Native Dennis McDonald on the benefits of eating and buying local food. Dennis compared local food with the current national food system. Three factors come into play with local food which includes environmental food safety, nutrition and health, and invigorating the local economy. 40% of fruits, 12% of vegetables, and 80% of our fish and shellfish consumed in the U.S are from other countries. The Lakes Regional Health Care partners with a group of area growers by providing a community garden. Other local emphasis from this group include selling to five area restaurants and the hospital; working with 4th graders in planting from seed to the fall harvest; local food sections in the future at area grocery stores; hoop houses to extend the growing season.

Dennis said that if half a percent of farmland in one county was designated for growing fruits and vegetables it could meet 25% of consumption in the entire state. Dennis' knowledge and expertise was evident as he shared interesting information with our club.