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BUY
LOCAL
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There Are Many Reasons To Buy Locally Grown Food
You'll get
exceptional taste and freshness.
Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances
from other states or countries.
You'll strengthen your local economy.
Buying
local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community.
Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships
based on understanding and trust.
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Actions You Can Take to Promote Local Food
Systems
Learn what foods are in season in your
area and try to build your diet around them.
Shop at a local farmers market. People living in areas without a
farmers market might try to start one themselves, linking up with
interested neighbors and friends and contacting nearby farmers and
agricultural officials for help. People can do the same with CSA
subscription schemes.
Ask the manager or chef of your favorite restaurant how much of the
food on the menu is locally grown, and then encourage him or her to
source food locally. Urge that the share be increased. People can do
the same at their local supermarket or school cafeteria.
Take a trip to a local farm to learn
what it produces.
Host a harvest party at your home or in your community that features
locally available and in-season foods.
Produce a local food directory that lists all the local food sources in
your area, including CSA arrangements, farmers markets, food co-ops,
restaurants emphasizing seasonal cuisine and local produce, and farmers
willing to sell directly to consumers year-round.
Buy extra quantities of your favorite fruit or vegetable when it is in
season and experiment with drying, canning, jamming, or otherwise
preserving it for a later date.
Plant a garden and grow as much of your own food as possible.
Speak to your local politician about forming a local food policy
council to help guide decisions that affect the local foodshed. |
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Guidelines for
Eating Well
If
not LOCALLY PRODUCED, then Organic. This is one of the most readily
available alternatives in the market and making this choice protects
the environment and your body from harsh chemicals and hormones.
If not ORGANIC, then Family farm. When faced with Kraft or Cabot
cheeses, Cabot, a dairy co-op in Vermont, is the better choice.
Supporting family farms helps to keep food processing decisions out of
the hands of corporate conglomeration.
If not FAMILY FARM, then Local business. Basics like coffee and bread
make buying local difficult. Try a local coffee shop or bakery to keep
your food dollar close to home.
If not a LOCAL BUSINESS, then Terroir, which means 'taste of the
Earth'. Purchase foods famous for the region they are grown in and
support the agriculture that produces your favorite non-local foods
such as Brie cheese from Brie, France or parmesan cheese from Parma,
Italy.
Hit the farmers' market before the supermarket. Plan your meal around
local ingredients you find at the market.
Branch out. Maybe your usual food repertoire could use some fresh
ideas. The farmers' market provides a perfect chance to try a new
ingredient when it's in season, and lets you talk to its grower to find
out the best way to prepare your new food. Flirt with your food
producer!
Feed the freezer. Can't cook every night? Worried about your fresh
produce going bad? It's easy. Make lasagna with local tomatoes or a
soup packed with fresh veggies and freeze it! You can also make
personal size meals for a brown bag lunch.
Go out! Many Bay Area restaurants emphasize local foods in their
dishes. Ask around, you might be surprised how many options you find
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