By Kristin Espeland-Gourlay
Louisville, KY – The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Louisville has launched a virtual farmers' market for Kentuckians to buy and sell local food. The Center receives funding and mandates to come up with alternatives to uncontrolled development and improve the flow of environmental goods and services from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It launched the "Kentucky Food Trader" Web site at www.kyfoodtrader.org for farmers and consumers looking for easier, faster ways to connect. Farmers can let the public know, via the site, when food is harvested and what's available. Consumers can search for specific foods, specific locations, and even communicate with farmers directly. Nonprofits can sign up as willing recipients of farmers' excess food. It's one of a handful of such EPA-supported sited in the country.