Buy fresh, buy local!

Last of a four-part series

Other issues in addition to farmers cooperative that were highlighted in the first Agriculture Summit (February 2009) focused on pest management and control, farm labor pool with the federalization of immigration, market identification and product branding, irrigation and fumigation infrastructure, value-added technology transfer, alternative farming approaches (hydroponic farming, organic farming, drip water irrigation, etc.), lack of government-provided farm equipment support for rent (i.e., farm tractors), and geographically referenced information in support of sustainable locally grown food system through geographic information system.

If the CNMI is to stay true to local food production for local consumption, then it needs to have a coherent policy on food sustainability and food security in agriculture as a food production system. The CNMI should start by imposing $0.10 per pound inspection fee on imported produce forthwith. The new revenue should be dedicated as follows: 1. Hire more inspectors to check on incoming produce that may provide additional insects, viruses and bacteria. 2. Fund 100 percent CNMI grown and Buy Fresh, Buy Local, for It Matters marketing programs. 3. Provide funds to growers teamed with CREES agriculture specialists to help increase self-sufficiency. 4. Build agriculture sustainability into elementary educational programs (i.e., school gardens and curriculum development, including community gardening programs). 5. Open more public land to grow more temperate crops. 6. Protect (CNMI product seal) the CNMI growers name and not allow companies with their distribution system or network, for instance, to substitute CNMI harvested dried mango with imported foreign mangos. 7. Fund more research to better our approach to agriculture and self-sustainability in the CNMI. 8. Support innovative production techniques and product enrichment strategies by local farmers, local ranchers, local fishermen, local dairy, and local value-added agriculture products (e.g., frozen fruit mango, guava, etc.). 9. Fund “what’s growing, who’s growing it and how to access it” geographic information system in support of the local food system.

Developing the capacity to connect people and restaurants with sources of local produce prevents food waste that also helps farmers with their profit margin.

As president of the Saipan Sabalu Farmers Association and overall chairman of this year’s 31st Saipan Agricultural Fair, we are inviting our local residents, local vendors, and local industry officials to come and join us on this fun-filled day. Come to the fair and celebrate the success of local farmers and other producers by buying local fresh produce, fruits, and agricultural value-added products. Also, make time to talk with local farmers and other local producers on how we could help with your fresh dietary choices, so that we all march forward together in achieving agriculture industry success and a healthy productive community that chooses fresh produce, fresh fruits, and other local agricultural by-products and value-added agricultural commodities over imported synthetic products and chemically treated off-island produce, fruits, and preserved valued-added products.

We also want to invite everyone in the community to participate in the soon-to-be announced grand opening of the Garapan Public Market at Fishing Base.

Be proud of “Buy fresh, buy local!” (By RAMON BLAS CAMACHO)