Posted July 13, 2009
The soft fragrance of ripe tomatoes defines summer for me. Red, yellow, pears, globes, marbled heirlooms: I cannot get enough of any variety – something my mother-in-law and I agree on wholeheartedly. She eats them like apples, and I prefer to slice them first. Stumbling on the perfect specimen at a local market, we sound the alarm and buy bulk to share the following week.
Buying produce locally ensures fresh-picked vegetables and fruit go directly from the farm to your table, while they’re highest in vitamin content and at the peak of flavor. Other perks credited to local buyers by grassroots movement Slow Food are strengthened community ties and an improved environment.
Farmers Markets
A wide array of local goods is available at area farmers markets. Baked goods, garden plants, and handmade soaps share booth space with loads of vegetables. Produce may be local, but that doesn’t mean it’s organic. Having a small farm certified organic is often too expensive to offset the cost, but many vegetable farmers follow the organic guidelines without state certification. Ask the farmers directly about growing practices and patronize booths that sell produce you’re comfortable eating.
Food Cooperatives
Nicknamed a co-op, these member-owned businesses support local agriculture by purchasing directly from the farmer, sans extra packaging. A membership fee ensures the co-op has money on hand to make purchases throughout the year, and members receive grocery discounts and share in annual profits. Check the phone book for co-ops in your area.
Roadside Stands and U-picks
Roadside stands are extremely cost-effective, with no markups for packaging or transit. Look for stands while driving or ask coworkers or friends from different parts of town.
A rare prize, U-picks yield bulk pickings at minimal cost. Offerings vary by state and by season-from apples to asparagus to berries to corn.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
Joining a CSA is like having your weekly farmers market plunder delivered to your door throughout the growing season. A CSA is a group of small, local farms offering weekly produce to a limited membership. Subscribers enroll in the program and pay up front, bankrolling the farming and delivery charges. CSA enrollments fill quickly with little, if any, advertising. If you’re lucky enough to find one by word of mouth, you may still be on the waiting list for a season.
Give your health and your community a boost by scouting for local produce. You might run into me, cradling an armload of tomatoes.
Date: July 12, 2009