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Great Reasons to be a Minnesota Local Food Lover

Simple, Good, and Tasty's Local Food Lover program has been getting a lot of good press.

In January of this year, Rachel Hutton from the City Pages wrote:

"It's 25 days into 2010 and you've already taken up a kettlebells routine and finished that novel--but what have you done to incorporate more sustainable eats into your diet? Simple, Good, and Tasty can get you started with its new Local Food Lover card, which offers discounts on local food and beverage from restaurants and retailers around the metro."

In February, Alexis McKinnis from the terrific Girl Friday blog wrote:

"... Simple Good and Tasty local food lovers' program is such a great concept that I just ordered up a membership."

Just last week, in a Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune article entitled Love Minnesota Food? Carry the Card with Cachet, Rick Nelson wrote:

"It wouldn't take too many scoops of butter pecan [from Pumphouse Creamery] to recoup the card's $29 cost. Another benefit: It looks hipper than a Blockbuster membership card, and each time it's used it pumps dollars into the local foods economy."

 We're excited by the response to our Local Food Lover program, both within our community and outside of it. We appreciate those of you who've purchased the card for yourselves and/or friends, and we're grateful for the feedback we continue to get that's helping us make the program better each day. (If you've purchased a card but have not yet registered it, please do that now. Then you'll start to receive our monthly email newsletter, with additional coupons and deals.)

If you live in Minnesota (or give gifts to Minnesotans) and haven't yet purchased a Local Food Lover card, here are a few great reasons to get on the ball:

1. You'll get great discounts at many of the best local, organic, and fair-trade businesses in town 

If you already support Brasa, Common Roots, Galactic Pizza, The Wedge, the Craftsman, Restaurant Alma, Spoonriver, Tastebud Catering, the Birchwood Cafe, Sen Yai Sen Lek, Mississippi Market, and the more than 30 other businesses listed here, you can start saving on your purchases immediately. If you've been wanting to explore the world of great local foods, the Local Food Lover card provides extra incentive to get started.

2. You'll support a great cause without even trying

Sure, the Local Food Lover program supports Simple, Good, and Tasty and our ability to continue producing great content, host community events, and more. And using your card supports the businesses involved. But did you know that a percentage of our profits go directly to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP)? IATP is an international, Twin Cities-based non-profit organization focused fair trade and local food issues, such as food deserts and farm to school programs. We're proud to support them.

3. You'll be giving a unique gift with cache

As Rick Nelson generously pointed out (above), the card (expertly designed by Stuart Flake of What Agency) looks pretty darned cool -- each one is letter-pressed by hand -- and you'll be proud to carry it in your pocket. If you give the card as a gift, you'll enjoy letting your friend and/or loved one know that you're giving them something unique and special that reflects their values as well as your own.

4. You'll get more deals each month

Each month, we send registered card holders an e-mail listing new offers from participating merchants. We’re adding partnerships and deals all the time -- since the program started, we've added 13 more offers.

There you have it -- our version of the hard sell. We, of course, think it's a great program, and we're continually making it better. Please explore the program further, check out our partners and offers, consider purchasing a card now, or visit one of our participating partners to take a look. You can find the Local Food Lover card at:

 

Lee Zukor is the founder of Simple, Good, and Tasty. E-mail him at lee@simplegoodandtasty.com or follow him on Twitter.