If you haven't heard about THRIVE, The Rogue Valley Initiative for a Vital Economy, then we're thrilled that you're learning about it about here. Best known for their Buy Local Buy Rogue and Rogue Flavor campaigns, THRIVE works to diversify and deepen our local economy, support family farmers and other locally-owned businesses in being greener, preserving farm land, and getting the word out about sustainable food and business practices.

Did you know that for every $1 spent at a local business, 45 cents get reinvested locally, while a dollar spent at a corporate chain takes 85 cents out of our local economy. Yikes! You can learn about all of this and more at BuyLocalBuyRogue.com, where you'll also find a great local business directory and resources such as a community calendar listing all local farmers' markets. THRIVE makes a great case that if we want to have a rich local economy, the best move we can make is to buy local whenever possible. Besides, fresh is better, and it doesn't get fresher than knowing your farmer!

Summer Jo's is also happy to be a part of THRIVE's Eat Local Challenge 2010, a fun-filled week celebrating the delicious bounty of locally-grown food in the Rogue Valley when locally owned restaurants offer menu specials featuring mostly local ingredients...which isn't too hard for us since we grow so much good food right here on the farm.

We'd like to give a shout out and turn you on to our friend Bob over at Grains, Beans and Things, one of the West Coast's largest suppliers of green coffee beans and home beer and wine-making supplies. If you're a back-to-the-land, do-it-yourself, off-the-grid kind of gal or guy, you'll love what Bob has to offer.

Whether you want to press grapes or roast beans, Bob has done the homework for you and offers complete product lines and classes in coffee roasting, home brewing, and wine making. Want to make cheese? He'll hook you up with everything you need for that too. It's high-quality, hands-on local businesses like this that make the Rogue region such a great place to call home.

» Visit Grains-n-Beans.com

We're excited about the possibility of the Medford Co-op finally coming on line. It's been a long journey for the folks trying to bring this community-supported, locally-focussed shopping spot to fruition, but they are now evaluating several sites and seem to be getting close to launching. Medford is the sixth largest city in Oregon and we think it will be a big success. We certainly plan to support it.

For more information visit MedfordFoodCoop.com