Aggie Barbecue encourages consumers eat local

Utah’s Own brand sponsored a locavore barbecue at the Utah State University greenhouses Saturday. This was a major step in providing the public with education on where the food they eat comes from and the benefits that locavorism can have on the local economy and the environment.

Locavores are people who try only to eat foods produced within a local area or a specific region. They like to see where the dollar they are spending ends up and where the food they eat comes from. This is often difficult to accomplish due to the lack of agricultural products available at the local level.

The top four agriculture exports of Utah are: live animals and meat, hides and skins, feeds and fodders, and dairy products. Many other exports include hay, corn, oats, apples, peaches, cherries and various vegetables.

Utah is the thirty-sixth largest production agriculture state in America. There are currently 11 million acres of land utilized for livestock and crop production landing the average size Utah farm at 677 acres. Utah’s agriculture is responsible for 16 percent, or $17 billion in the Utah economy. This means when local agriculture is supported, the local economy is also going to benefit.

The support of local agriculture is more than just supporting the Utah’s Own brand, but also the support of a higher quality of living.