December 8, 2011:
Commission Recognizes Students for “Food – Keep it Local” Calendar
The Sarasota County Commission Wednesday, Dec. 7, recognized 13 elementary students whose artwork appears on the “Food – Keep it Local” calendar for 2012. Nearly 1,500 students entered this year’s competition to illustrate ways to encourage purchasing and eating locally grown and produced food as a way to improve health, reduce our carbon footprint, support the local economy and protect and preserve natural resources.
The calendar was produced through the county’s Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship Team (NEST) in cooperation with the Sarasota County School Board.
“The calendar encourages students and all Sarasota County residents to purchase and eat locally grown and produced food, which is fresher, more nutritious and tastes better,” said Rob Wright, who coordinates the NEST calendar contest. “Buying and consuming locally grown foods also helps support the local economy and reduce waste, while using less energy for packaging and transportation.”
The popular annual calendar is free and features the winning illustrations, along with a thought for the month to encourage purchasing and eating locally grown and produced food.
The annual calendar contest is open to elementary students in all public and private Sarasota County schools, including charter schools and elementary school-age, home-schooled students. Each winner’s school will receive a supply of calendars. The winning artwork will be displayed throughout January 2012 in the Sarasota County School Board Administration offices.
The calendar will be available at all county public libraries and administration facilities after Dec. 15. To get a free “Food – Keep it Local” calendar for 2012, or to learn more about the NEST program, contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Rob Wright.
View the complete article at Sarasota County News
