Not shy about a commitment to sustainability, Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced that for the second year in a row, the chain will serve more than 10 million pounds of locally sourced fruits and vegetables at its more than 1,300 U.S. locations.

The city of San Luis Obispo, located in central California has announced a "buy local" food policy for its jail and Juvenile Services Center, reports the San Luis Obispo's Tribune.

The next generation of organic farmers are hitting the road on an Organic Valley sponsored 3-week tour of the Pacific Northwest in the Generation Organic 2011 "Who's Your Farmer" campaign aimed at connecting people with their food, their local growers and to discuss how personal diet choices affect not just our own health, but the health of the planet and of future generations.

Louisiana's legislature is considering a bill that would offer financial rewards to area restaurants that use locally grown fruits and vegetables in their menu items.

Joan Baez, Julia Butterfly Hill and John Quigley have all taken a perch high in a tree to protest the eviction of more than 300 local farmers. Darryl Hannah has showed her support by pitching her tent on the ground accompanied by local media and other supporters.

Local community gardens like this are critical to the health and welfare of our children’s future. Inner city children face an uphill battle with obesity and diabetes on a constant rise. The latest statistic I heard in the news was that one in three children are at risk of developing diabetes. With cheap over processed foods as the mainstay of these kids diets, families and children are losing touch with tasty, nutritious, organic and natural foods and it’s putting their health at risk. If we don’t educate families and their children about the importance of good nutrition and continue to make fresh, organic produce and vegetables available at an affordable price to everyone, most importantly our children, their long term health and our health care system face an uphill battle with continued rising health care costs.

If we use tasty, nutritious food as a form of preventative medicine and educate ourselves just a little bit, and it doesn’t take much, and quit looking for the quick fix in get skinny quick diets and live a well balanced life that’s rich in tasty, nutritious, organic and natural foods (after all that’s how the Europeans live) we could begin to turn around America’s obesity crisis around amongst children and adults alike.

Instead of focusing on how much an organic tomato costs, probably about $.50 more, if that, than a conventional tomato and it actually has sweet tomato flavor which children will probably love, lets focus on the quality and excellent flavor in our foods while ensuring our long term health by living a well balanced life full of tasty, nutritional rich foods that could potentially mean less doctor visits in the future.

As day six approaches in this protest, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa made a statement of support from City Hall Thursday, to affirm his dedication to achieving permanent protection for the nation’s largest inner-city community garden. A stewardship plan is being put together for the long-term vision of the Farm.

If you would like to help in any way or make a contribution go to www.southcentralfarmers.com to make a donation and find out more.

Stay tuned ….