IOWA CITY, Iowa — The National Cooperative Grocers Association and its member co-ops nationwide are challenging shoppers to eat foods from local growers and suppliers as part of a campaign called, “Eat Local, America.”

The challenge to “seasoned locovores” is to commit to eating four out of every five meals using local food, while it’s encouraging novices to serve five meals a week using local products.

“Eating local food is good for the economy because money from each transaction stays in the region; and it connects residents to the people who grow or produce their food while helping to support family farms,” said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for the National Cooperative Grocers Association.

“It's also respectful of the environment because food doesn't travel as far. Plus, local food is more nutritious and simply tastes better because it's often harvested or processed the same day it arrives at the co-op.”

The association, founded in 1999, said it has cultivated reciprocal relationships with local growers and producers over the years. The association is owned by 111 food co-ops operating more than 140 stores in 32 states with combined annual sales over $1 billion.

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