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Following is a resolution recently approved by the Athens Area Chapter of the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association:

WHEREAS, agriculture is an essential part of Ohio’s economy that provides food to consumers and employment to farmers, farm workers, businesses and all those who are part of some aspect of agriculture; and

WHEREAS, the Athens Farmers Market has been cited as one of the best farmers markets in the United States; and

WHEREAS, restaurants and thousands of consumers rely on the locally grown food that is produced by operators of numerous small farms in our area; and

WHEREAS, the toxic chemicals used in horizontal “fracking” represent a dangerous risk to human health; and

WHEREAS, there is evidence elsewhere of the danger to water, soil, infrastructure and the environment that has been caused by horizontal “fracking”; and

WHEREAS, we believe it is imperative to maintain and expand our local food economy that is energy efficient and ecologically responsible; therefore