1) Visit a farmers' market.
Farmers'
markets keep small farms in business through direct sales. Rather than going
through a middleman, the farmer takes home nearly all of the money that you
hand him or her for a delectable apple or a wonderful bunch of grapes. Need to
find a market in your area? Try
the USDA's
farmers' market guide.
2) Lobby your supermarket.
Ask
your supermarket manager where your meat, produce and dairy is coming from.
Remember that market managers are trained to realize that for each person
actually asking the question, several others want to know the same answer. Let
the market managers know what's important to you! Your show of interest is
crucial to help the supermarket change its purchasing practices.
3) Choose 5 foods in your house that you can buy locally.
Rather than trying to source
everything locally all at once, try swapping out just 5 local foods. Fruits and
vegetables that can be grown throughout the continental U.S. include apples,
root vegetables, lettuce, herbs and greens. In most areas, it's also possible
to find meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and cheese - all grown, harvested and produced
close to your home.
4)
Find a local CSA and sign-up!
Through a CSA—Community Supported
Agriculture—program you invest in a local farm in exchange for a weekly box of
assorted vegetables and other farm products. Most CSA programs provide a
discount if you pre-pay for your share on a quarterly or yearly basis because a
pre-payment allows the farm to use the cash in the springtime when money is
needed for farm equipment or investment in the farm. CSA programs take the work
out of buying local food, as the farmer does the worrying for you.
5) Preserve a local food for the winter.
There's
still time! Though we are headed into winter, many areas still have preservable
fruits and vegetables available. Try your hand at making
applesauce,
apple butter and
quince paste. To learn about safe preserving techniques, go to
the
National Center for Home Food
Preservation.
6) Find out what restaurants in your area support local farmers.
You can do this by asking the
restaurants about their ingredients directly, or by asking your favorite
farmers what restaurant accounts they have. Frequent the businesses that
support your farmers.
7) Host a local Thanksgiving.
Participate
in the 100-mile Thanksgiving project by making a dish or an entire
meal from local foods.
8) Buy from local vendors.
Can't
find locally grown? How about locally produced? Many areas have locally
produced jams, jellies and breads as well as locally roasted coffee and locally
created confections. While these businesses may not always use strictly local
ingredients in their products, by purchasing them you are supporting the local
economy.
9) Ask about origins.
Not locally
grown? Then where is it from? Call the producer of your favorite foods to see
where the ingredients are from. You'll be amazed how many large processed food
companies are unable to tell you where your food came from. By continuing to
ask the questions we are sending a message to the companies that consumers want
to know the origin of ingredients.
10) Visit a farm.
Find a farm in your area and call to make an
appointment to see the farm. When time allows, the farmers are usually happy to
show a family or a group around the farm. When you visit, ask the farmers what
challenges they have had and why they choose to grow what they are growing. Be
sure to take the kids along on this journey! Children need to know where their
food is coming from in order to feel a sense of connection to their dinner.
Want to know more about why locavores choose to eat local? Check out
10 Reasons to Eat Local Food.
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