Happy Friday!

I've been very busy the past two weeks, and that means progress on the app is slower than I'd like. Thank you to everyone who has signed up to beta-test the app!

If you want to beta test it, just reply to this email, and I'll add you!

In this email, I want to share kind of what my dream is if reko day is more successful than I could imagine. While I can't pretend that I'll accomplish any of these things, it's a helpful reminder for the direction I want to steer in.

Building Stronger Communities

The origin of reko day is from Finland, where they explicitly went out to strengthen local communities by connecting everyone to the food that was produced within that same community.

I think that is a wonderful thing. Imagine living in a town where you know and might even be friends with the folks who provide most of the fresh produce, meat, and dairy you need. Imagine the feeling of being a part of a living community instead of an HOA.

Reko day can help with this by bringing folks together to buy and sell local food.

Better Taste, Better Health

Most of our food and meat goes through extensive processing and treatments before it shows up on a shelf in the store. Now, most of that is for our safety.

But we also need that because of how it's handled. So one kind of required the other.

This doesn't even begin to cover the treatment of the animals or crops themselves before they begin their journey.

Most folks with small gardens and farms don't participate in that huge supply chain, and also don't have to go into the industrial methods of treatment. This means a lot of the food that is grown locally has a much better chance of being the real thing and not a product of science.

Reko day day helps get people locally grown fresh foods, which will taste better, and be better for you.

New Relationship With Food

A few decades ago, a trend started that we're slowly reversing where food was to be judged by its convenience. The rise of instant everything led to a microwave being a staple appliance to prepare meals.

Thankfully this is changing, and people are far more interested in cooking delicious meals. I'd like to see this trend continue, and every chef says that your cooking will only ever be as good as your ingredients.

Anyone who has had a prolific tomato plant can point to days in the summer when those tomatoes were the feature of a meal. Partially because they had to use them before they went bad but also because there was a deep desire to enjoy what they grew.

I like to imagine our country's relationship with food changing as it regains a love of delicious meals with incredible ingredients. That people forget store-bought cookies exist because it's strawberry season or that the local butter makes something so much better.

Reko day can help with this by becoming the easiest way to buy fresh, local produce.

Anyway, I thought I'd share what is rolling around in my head as I continue trying to get ready to launch the app. I'd love to hear what you think about my dream here. Love it or hate it, I'd love to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Ryan