Food safety may not be on your list of reasons to buy local, but it should be. Whether it's a spinach, meat, or peanut recall, consumers are increasingly concerned about the safety of foods they purchase. Buying from small and medium sized local farms, however, can eliminate some of those concerns and uncertainties. The recent pistachio recall provides a great example of this.

Many small and medium sized farms need extra help during the busy growing season, but labor cost are often an issue.  Also, there are many young and aspiring farmers who want to gain more experience or knowledge, but there is limited formal training.   Farm internship programs can offer a great solution to both.

To Flood or Not to Flood: A look at Innovative Acequia Irrigation, was the topic of February's Agriculture Collaborative Meeting. Over 50 people were in attendance to learn about local drip irrigation projects and how drip can be used successfully when irrigating with surface water.