Several legislators have successfully passed legislation through the Idaho House on a second try after their first attempt fell victim to the legislative process. Moscow Republican Rep. Tom Trail is now one of those.
On Monday, Trail pushed through a resolution honoring locally grown food in the state of Idaho. The resolution commends the citizens of the state for efforts in growing healthy products that aid in bringing income to the state. The document also recognizes small businesses and farms for their work in bringing local food to market.
Even the state’s physical conditions got a show of support from lawmakers. From the text of the resolution:
With Idaho’s climate, soil and water, farmers and ranchers have created an agriculture that is famous around the world and Idaho raised vegetables, fruits, grains, meats, dairy and eggs have an outstanding reputation for quality and flavor.
The resolution was initially brought to lawmakers by Janie Burns, representing the Treasure Valley Food Coalition. Burns’ resolution originally focused on farmers market, which, she said, helps to maintain a strong local economy and encourages a sense of community among citizens. Her original resolution failed in committee because lawmakers felt it needed some language corrections to prevent it from alienating larger food production businesses in the state.
In the initial committee hearing on the resolution, Burns said that the state is losing its independence due to reliance on outside food producers. She added that many factors have led to the shrinking of the state’s food-producing sector, including market price fluctuations on certain grains, changes in buying procedures for corporate entities, and even the perception that farming is “old fashioned.” Burns noted that even school principals would participate in the food business in the early part of 20th century when they would shop locally for the food the school purchased for school lunches.
The state is also losing out on millions of dollars due to the shrinking food economy in the state. Burns said that the average Idahoan spends $50 a week on food and the state spends more than $4 billion a year on food products, much of which is going outside the state. She added that states like Iowa and California are benefiting from Idaho’s money, as are the countries of China, Chile, and Brazil.
Trail said the economy of his city benefits from its local farmer’s market, which, he said, provides a weekly $50,000 boost to the market.
The resolution was approved by a unanimous voice vote and now heads to the Senate.
Three years ago we were a dairy farm one mile north of Eagle. We sold the cows at that time, real estate was booming and life was good. Last summer we did Saturday Market in Eagle with farm fresh eggs and some garden produce and kind of felt out the market and found that people wanted we what we had to offer. This year we are doing a full acre of garden, more eggs and within the week will have a website up for Chase Farms in Eagle so I am happy for the support.
[...] Local farmers and farmers markets got a pat on the back from the Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee Tuesday, which approved a resolution encouraging Idaho-grown food production. The House approved the non-binding resolution March 15. [...]