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The Importance of Farmers Markets
Since the early 90’s, farmers markets have vastly increased in popularity and accessibility. According to the USDA, there are currently more than 8,600 farmers markets in the United States. The biggest reason for their growth has been that health has become a lifestyle priority with many of us who are now turning to our local markets for fresh produce.
But farmer markets can provide other benefits as well. When you purchase products from a local market, the money goes straight into a local farmer’s business and ultimately creates a boost throughout a local economy. By connecting rural to urban, farmer to consumer, and fresh ingredients to our diets, farmers markets are becoming economic and community centerpieces in cities and towns across America.
Another benefit that you may not have considered is how farmers markets can help the environment. Produce grown via conventional agriculture travels on average fifty times further than the produce you can purchase at a farmers’ market. This has major implications for greenhouse gas emissions, fuel usage, pollution, and water usage. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, buying locally means reducing fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions that result from non-locally grown food being transported from distant locations. American food travels an average of 1,500 to 2,500 miles from farm to table, according to the Worldwatch Institute. Purchasing food locally helps cut out the carbon emissions associated with that travel.
To find where the closest farmer’s market is to you, you can visit the Pick Tennessee Products website for a list of locations across the state. If you are a farmer or have a agriculture-related business and would like to interested to learn more about growing your business and/or being a part of the Pick TN community, you can attend the upcoming Pick TN Conference from February 16th - 18th in Franklin. The conference brings together all of the major state entities associated with Tennessee home-grown products to provide both educational and networking opportunities.
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Join us to learn how you can become a Partner during Food Waste Awareness Week and help us share info and resources on reducing food waste and increasing food recovery and diversion. Click on the image above to register!
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Green Interchange in partnership with the Tennessee Environmental Council will be hosting 2023 Plant a Tree for Tennessee on April 22, 2023! Plant a Tree 4 TN is their most aggressive planting effort with over 10,500 trees planted with 4,500 hours of volunteers all across Tennessee in 2022. For 2023 they are set to plant over 12,000 trees. They are looking for partners to accomplish this!
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Applications are now open for the state’s Tire Environmental Act Program (TEAP)!
These grants fund projects that create or expand uses for waste tires. Projects include tire recycling and processing, using materials such as aggregate that are derived from tires, initiating research and development in tire management, using tires for alternative fuels, or promoting innovation in infrastructure.
The application deadline is April 15. There are no restrictions on eligible entity types. All organizations are eligible to apply for the funding. Further information on the program is available online at the TEAP website. Information about the TDEC grants management system is available here.
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Small Business Environmental Assistance Program
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Show your family and friends that you care about them this Valentine’s season by striving to reduce air pollution. Many manufacturing processes, including those operated by small businesses, emit air pollutants. TDEC’s Division of Air Pollution Control issues permits to control and abate air pollution. If you own a small business whose processes emit air pollutants, call TDEC’s Small Business Environmental Assistance Program (SBEAP) for one-on-one assistance on air pollution permitting. If you already have an air pollution permit, call us for one-on-one assistance on ways to comply with the requirements of the permit. Contact us at 800-734-3619 or bgSBEAP@tn.gov.
Also, SBEAP’s website contains a ton of useful information. Additionally, you can sign up for our newsletter, TN Small Biz Buzz, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on reporting deadlines, training opportunities, webinars, compliance tips, and more!
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Deadline: April 15, 2023
Conferences/Workshops/Training Opportunities
February 16-18, 2023
March 4, 2023 || 9am-3pm
Stay tuned as we receive updates about upcoming conferences.
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