One of the best reasons to buy your food locally is connection. Who among us feels connected to our neighbors let alone the persons who grow our food and create the fuel we need to sustain us? The truth is, as a society we've become profoundly disconnected from each other and from the source of those things that make it possible to keep going. Is it any wonder that many Americans feel isolated, insecure and depressed? Although the problem I describe extends well beyond the bounds of agriculture, increasing our connection to the orgins of our food is one sure way to re-infuse our lives with the oft-missing human element.
How can you gain access to local food, you ask? Well, if you do most of your grocery shopping at a chain store, chances are good that your food is coming from large distribution centers located hundreds, if not thousands, of miles away. Chances are also good that many of the products on the shelves have their origins in places all over the globe. So, your best bet for trying to access local food is finding the nearest farmers' market. Weekly farmers' markets are springing up all over the place. Not sure where your nearest farmers' market is? Go to www.localharvest.org to search their directory of farmers' markets across the U.S.
At your local farmers' market you'll mill about looking at the wonderful and often unique variety of freshly picked produce. You'll also invariably interact with the people from whom you are buying tomatoes (or salad greens or garlic, you get the idea!). Often times the people selling the produce are the very same people who had a hand in growing the food. Ever wonder how long it takes to grow a tomato from seed to juicy, red fruit? Ask! Are you curious about what, if any, sprays were used on the produce? Ask! And be sure to ask where the food was grown. Why? Because this gives you a tangible connection to a place, for one. Additionally, it may lead to an inclination to visit the farm someday. Especially if it's only a 20-minute drive away. Farmers' markets are great places to strike up conversations and, whether you mean to or not, you can learn a lot in the process. If nothing else you can know the producers of your veggies on sight, and the next time you see them you can proclaim "That's my farmer!"
2 comments:
How would you rate local CSAs?
Well, generally speaking, I would give the availability of local CSA programs (Willamette Valley area) a high rating of something like a 9. A quick perusal of the 2007 Willamette Farm and Food Coalition's Locally Grown directory lists 11 area farms and 12 CSA subscription services. In terms of the variety of food products offered, I'd also probably give local CSAs an 8 or 9 rating.
Do I have any specific farms to recommend? That's a little trickier. I've only subscribed to two farms and so have very limited experience. I have a lot of respect for the work that Winter Green Farm is doing (they're biodynamic and provide shares to WomenSpace). I didn't find the size and variety of their shares to be all that impressive, but I would still recommend them, especially if a really large box of produce each week is too much for you.
The farm we currently subscribe with is Groundwork Organics. We love the size and variety of the share (and appreciate their fall/winter offerings). The farm itself doesn't seem all that accessible (whereas Winter Green Farm seems very accessible and a warm, friendly place to visit).
Some of our friends subscribe to Hey Bayles! Farm, and the Food for Lane County Youth Farm is a wonderful program to support (I think they have a BIG waiting list).
I dunno. I'd like to see more neighborhood-based CSAs crop up (no pun intended!) I'd love to be a part of something like that. I, along with a few other neighbors, could contribute whatever I have in abundance in my garden to the weekly "share." I haven't worked out the details, but I think it would be a great way to REALLY localize food production and grow community.
Thanks for your comment!
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