your Calgary link goes to the Vancouver article.

Thanks, anonymous! I'll fix that.

The map is pretty limited IMO; I think there needs to be a 'craigslist' type place to go where producers and consumers of the 100 mile diets can match-up their maps efficiently. 'Circle List'

And we need a modified google map not just for a consumer, but one for the producers as well. In the first a consumer enters in what type of food they want, e.g. Tomatoes, and this lists tomato growers within that circle with their availablility and other qualities instantly clickable. A tomato grower simply logs onto their 'Circle List' entry and posts what breeds they grow, how much there is and it's various other qualities such as price ripeness etc. even with pictures. Directions shipping availablity.

The decentralized 'Circle List' then matches up the best combinations of the two persons in terms of pricing, predefined qualities etc., as well as travel and shipping information. Appointments can be made year round as is seasnally appropriate. One could enter in or select from recipes, and the Circle List would find if all the ingredients are in season or otherwise available, the pricing and pull up the best travel or shipping options.

Any adventurous web designers out there?

Sam

I also think that there needs to be some kind of Internet system that makes link-up between consumers and producers of local food easy. I believe that the practice of buying local food will remain extremely limited until a system is in place that enables a person who wants to buy local food to do so with the same ease as buying from a nearby supermarket. People are willing to invest time, effort and money in researching and finding the right house or the right car or some other expensive purchase, but they are not willing to do this for their food. Too many people are running around like chickens with their heads cut off from all the stuff they have to do and all they want to do; they will never get around to looking for a local tomato farmer, even if they want to. Only a system that makes link up and delivery easy will change that.

As a part-time local grower, I'd say such systems Sam and h envision sound cool. (I've actually been searching for funding for my day job to explore making interactive "local foodshed" mapping systems. I was just going to do it for part of Michigan because its quite the undertaking.) Yeah, perhaps localharvest.org (where I posted my farm) or eatwellguide.org/sustainable table should team up with Google.

For consumers, should go without saying but one of the best things you can do right now, in addition to searching on eatwellguide.org and localharvest.org, is to just go to your local farmers market. Farmers markets are increasing in numbers and frequency and I guarantee there are local producers there who would like to meet you. Just about every single producer at the 2 markets I go to are easily within 100 miles. The 2 markets I go to are 5 and 12 miles away from my small farm respectively. While at the market, be sure to ask the producer how everything was grown and where etc. (any producer who takes offense to such questions you maybe don't want to buy from). Plus, if you don't see something at the market you want to buy, ask the producers there if they know of a local option for you.

Check out our prototype version of a 100 Mile Diet Interactive Map. We are hoping that our map can spread across Wisconsin and nationally. We are very excited about the 'eat local' movement! Enjoy!