LANSING - People who want the healthiest, freshest, best-tasting fruits and vegetables should buy ones grown right here in Michigan, said Don Koivisto, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture.  Koivisto made his remarks in delivering this week's radio address on behalf of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.
 
"People today are eating healthier by including more fruits and vegetables in their diets," Koivisto said.  "Locally-grown food is healthier than food shipped long distances, because many fruits and vegetables can lose up to half of their nutrients in just five days.  And the best-tasting fruits and vegetables are the ones that ripen close to your home."
 
Koivisto said Select Michigan, a brand identification program to promote Michigan-grown food, can help people find food produced in the state.  The Select Michigan logo can be found on Michigan food products sold at grocery stores, farmers markets and on individual farms.
 
"To help introduce the public to all of the wonderful food we produce in Michigan, we periodically set up Select Michigan farmers markets where locally-grown food products are featured," Koivisto said.  "Two of them are coming up soon.  The first will be this coming Thursday, August 20, at Detroit's Eastern Market, just east of downtown Detroit.  The second will be September 17 in Lansing in front of the State Capitol."
 
"The next time you go grocery shopping, look for Michigan-grown blueberries, peaches, corn, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables," Koivisto said.  "Look for the Select Michigan logo that tells you they were grown here.  You'll be buying local food that's fresher, healthier and tastes better, and you'll also be helping the Michigan economy."
 
The governor's weekly radio address is released each Friday morning and may be heard on broadcast stations across the state.  The address is available on the governor's Web site at (www.michigan.gov/gov) for download, together with a clip of the quote above.  The radio address is also available as a podcast on the Web site, as well as on iTunes and via RSS feed for general distribution to personal MP3 players and home computers.  Links to the audio files and text of today's address follow.
 
Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto
Radio Address - Farmers Markets
 
Full:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov210Full_288904_7.mp3
Edited:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov210Edit_288905_7.mp3
Quote:  http://www.michigan.gov/documents/gov/Gov210Quote_288906_7.mp3
 
Hello.  This is Don Koivisto, director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, pinch hitting today for Governor Jennifer Granholm.
 
People today are eating healthier by including more fruits and vegetables in their diets.  If you want the healthiest, freshest, best-tasting fruits and vegetables, you should buy ones grown right here in Michigan.
 
Locally-grown food is healthier than food shipped long distances, because many fruits and vegetables can lose up to half of their nutrients in just five days.  And the best-tasting fruits and vegetables are the ones that ripen close to your home.
 
Select Michigan, a brand identification program to promote Michigan-grown food, can help you find food produced in our state.  The Select Michigan logo can be found on Michigan food products sold at grocery stores, farmers markets and on individual farms.
 
To help introduce the public to all of the wonderful food we produce in Michigan, we periodically set up Select Michigan farmers markets where locally-grown food products are featured.  Two of them are coming up soon.  The first will be this coming Thursday, August 20, at Detroit's Eastern Market, just east of downtown Detroit.  The second will be September 17 in Lansing in front of the State Capitol.
 
If you can't attend either of these Select Michigan farmers markets, try visiting one of the 200 community farmers markets around the state.  You'll find a list of them by going to the Website farmersmarketonlin.com and following the "Open Air Markets" link.
 
When you purchase Michigan fruits and vegetables, you're making a healthy choice for yourself and also improving the health of the Michigan economy.
 
Michigan's agri-food sector employs one million people and contributes $71.3 billion annually to the state economy.  Every year, Michigan exports more than $2 billion in agricultural commodities to other states and another billion dollars worth to countries all over the world.   
 
If every Michigan household spent just $10 a week of its current grocery budget on locally-grown and produced foods, the result would be almost $2 billion circulating within our state economy every year. 
 
To learn more about Michigan food products and where to buy them, visit our Website at SelectMichigan.org.  That's SelectMichigan.org.
 
The next time you go grocery shopping, look for Michigan-grown blueberries, peaches, corn, tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables.  Look for the Select Michigan logo that tells you they were grown here.  You'll be buying local food that's fresher, healthier and tastes better, and you'll also be helping the Michigan economy.
 
Thank you for listening.

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