How To Make The Local Food Movement Work For You

I went to a farm to table discussion last night on the relationship between local farmers, restaurants and consumers. The discussion turned to the reasons why more consumers and restaurants were not embracing the local food movement. The panel, made up of a fewlocal restaurant owners, the head of a large local farmers market,  the head of organics for a popular garden store and other local foodies was, well, angry.  The restauranteurs couldn't understand why more restaurants didn't embrace local farms. The woman from the farmer's market couldn't understand why more people didn't buy from her market.  The head of organics couldn't understand why we  would want her harming herself with pesticides if she didn't need to.

All agreed that we consumers spend so much money on cars and other frivolous things - why couldn't we just put some of that money towards local farmers?  A story was even told of a migrant farm hand who chose to buy his chickens and produce from the farmer, even though it cost him double.  It was worth it, they said.

But for me, my main reason for not shopping at a farmer's market: money.

If I shopped exclusively at a farmer's market for my family of five, we would be broke in two seconds flat.  Local food is expensive, period.  I still need a car to drive, a house to live in and three kids to put through college.

I don't like to be muscled. Nor do I work well with guilt.  There has to be a better way to get more people to eat locally and feel good about doing it.  I love the idea of going to a big bountiful market and buying all my fresh produce, local cheeses, grass fed meats and other local foods, right there, knowing they only traveled a few miles to get to me. The food tastes fresher, the nutrient content is higher and I am supporting local business.

So how can we, as average consumers, support local foods and feel okay about doing it?  Here are some ideas.

Consider your priorities.  Worse than going broke at a local market is going broke eating out.  It's another thing my family and I could never afford to do, financially and for so many health reasons.  We would be strapped for cash and have more health issues than the average American. Houses, cars and college aside, if you eat out a lot then I have no doubt that buying fresh produce from a local farmers market would be more economical, and healthier for you.

Create your own farmers, right in your own backyard.  I have a large organic garden, I get my eggs from my chickens and my honey from my bees. After buying seeds, my produce is virtually free and has only traveled a few feet.  Short on space?  Use containers on your deck or grow things that climb up, such as cucumbers. For my posts on gardening and how to start, click here.

Invest in a CSA.  CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture.  The idea is that you buy a share from a farm for the growing season.  For a certain amount of money each week, the farm delivers you a box of their most seasonal produce.  You pick it up at a designated spot and be on your way.  Hopefully it is also organic.  Although you don't know what is coming in your box each week (though I like the element of surprise) it is still local, more economical than multiple visits to a farm market and convenient.

So, my question to you today is, what is your take on buying local foods and produce? I would love to hear from you in the comments below and keep the discussion going.

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Heather Carey, M.S. is a culinary nutritionist who live is Fairfield with her husband, three kids, dog, cat, chickens and more bees than she can count!