Here are four simple ways to find fresh, locally grown food this summer!
With summer nearly here, it’s the perfect time of year to go local! Local food is typically much more fresh, retaining more nutrients, than conventional produce that’s been trucked thousands of miles before reaching your plate. Plus, supporting local food means you’re directly supporting local farmers in your community! What’s not to love?
Here are four simple ways to find fresh, locally grown food this summer!
Go hyper-local and garden Whether you have space in your backyard or windowsill, the summer is a great time to try gardening for the first time! Here’s a great resource from our friends at the Rodale Institute for all things gardening. Another great option is joining a community garden. Community gardens often hold free events and training for first timers. Try this directory from the American Community Gardening Association to find a community garden near you!
Visit a farmers’ market Farmers’ markets can be magical places, an opportunity to connect directly with the farmers and artisans that produce the food you’ll eat. It’s a unique opportunity to learn more about where your food comes from, who grows it, how it’s grown and what’s in season. Plus, there are often many opportunities for free samples! Visit the USDA’s National Farmers’ Market Database to find one in your area.
Join a CSA The idea behind Community Supported Agriculture (or CSA) can be traced back to the 1920s but began simultaneously in 1986 on the east coast, at Temple-Wilton Community Farm in New Hampshire and Indian Line Farm in Massachusetts. The idea is pretty simple, farmers grow it and you eat it. In practical terms, you buy a share in a farm and in return you get a share of each harvest throughout the season. To find a CSA near you, here’s a national directory.
Support restaurants that source local There aren’t many experiences that are more enjoyable than a simple meal, made from fresh ingredients, sourced from farmers within your community. By supporting restaurants committed to local, you have the satisfaction of knowing where your food comes from and the integrity with which it is produced, along with directly supporting businesses aligned with the values of local. Here’s a great mobile friendly guide for ethical eating!
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