Here at Farm to Fork, we promote, educate, and engage the community to embrace eating and cooking with fresh local produce throughout the WNY summer & fall growing season. Supporting our local farms is a great way to help the community and eat healthy! Below are some resources to guide you on how to eat in season and buy local.
The Benefits of Buying Local
WHY CHOOSE FARMER’S MARKETS, FARMS, OR FOOD ARTISANS?
By supporting your local farmers, you’re supporting the local economy, meaning the money you spend goes directly to the person who put in the work.
LOCAVORES
People whose diet consists mostly of locally grown food - are guaranteed fresh, farm-to-table food. Local produce is also better for the environment. Since the product isn’t shipped from around the world, you reduce your carbon footprint! By buying local, you’re guaranteed better-tasting produce that costs about the same (sometimes even less) than conventionally-farmed produce. A traditional imported apple picked before it’s ripe (so it can ripen as it travels hundreds of miles to you) will have a lower nutritional value than food picked when just ripe and sold to you within a few days from your local farmer. That’s why when you eat local, seasonal foods, not only are you doing something good for your local farmers and contributing to your community, but it’s better for you, too!
GET TO KNOW YOUR LOCAL FARMER
Don’t be shy – step up and get to know your farmer! Most farm stand managers will gladly answer any questions you may have. You’ll get to know more about the origin of your food! Here are some questions to start the conversation:
Where is your farm?
How do you decide which products to grow?
Do you grow all the products you sell?
How do you handle weeds and pests? What, if any, pesticides do you use?
If you have cows and/or chickens, how are they raised?
Depending on where you live, you can also join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
CSAs are a wonderful way to support your local farmers and get access to local, in-season produce at a more affordable price than your local grocery store, as you’re buying directly from the producer. Many people share their CSA with one other person or another family, as sometimes you may get more produce than you’re able to go through in 1-2 weeks. To join a CSA, you can visit Local Harvest and find a farm near you. Each farm will have different specialties ranging from fruits and veggies, to eggs, dairy, and meat. Once you find the right CSA for your needs, you can purchase your membership which can include weekly shipments of produce, a pre-paid card for the season, or a different way to receive goods to support a CSA.
