Must-Have Resources for the Budding Locavore
Tools to Help You Get Started Eating Locally Produced Foods
If you follow food trends, you’ve probably have heard of the locavore movement. (In a nutshell, it’s a growing trend toward eating foods that are produced locally, rather than shipped in from some distance.) The term locavore itself has been around for a couple of years, but the premise is timeless. The idea is that when you eat food that’s raised close to home, you cut down on the energy and time expended to transport the goods from farm to table (environmentally sound) and get a fresher product (culinarily sound). Sounds great, right?
Well, for many people it’s not as simple as cruising through their local farmers’ market each week and picking up all the food they need. Suite101.com’s very own Jacqueline Church gave her provocative opinion on the difficulties of eating locally in her article Locavores and 100-mile Dieters . Given seasonal climate change in many areas as well as a seeming dearth of products produced nearby, many people who want to expand their horizons by looking closer to home, may not know where to look to find the products they need produced in their area.
Internet Resources to Find Locally Produced Foods
A great place to start your search for local foods is your web browser. Technology can be a great tool to help people make their local food choices simpler. Here are a couple of the website that many turn to:
- Locallectual.com claims, “It is no longer a challenge to buy local when you use the Locallectual database to find products made closer to home.” Depending on your geographic location, this site might be a great resource for you. Expect more geographic locations to be available in the near future. Note- this site provides info on where to buy all kinds of products (from pottery to clothing) not just food-related products.
- LocalHarvest.org is an extremely robust site for the new locavore, allowing you to search for farms offering poultry and eggs, vegetables and herbs, dried and fresh lavender, coffee and tea, handcrafted soaps, honey, and much more. One of the coolest features is that you can search by type of service (farm, farmer’s market, online store, etc.) using your zip code to find those services closest to you. And if you’re not in a mood to cook, you can search for listings of restaurants that specialize in using local ingredients.
Other Resources for the New Locavore
If you’d rather go the traditional research route, meaning sans a web browser, the official tourism board of your state likely has a listing for local farms. Check your phone book for the tourism board contact information. If you happen to be lucky enough to live near a tourist welcome center (most often located at an exit from a major interstate highway, within a mile or two of the state line), you could just pop in and talk to one of the helpful people behind the counter.
Also, pay attention to any local food and wine festivals. Often these festivals are centered around a particular favorite local cuisine (oysters, for example). Many of the local fisherman and farmers that produce the particular food attend the event and provide information about their services. Even better, you'll likely have a chance to sample their wares. And don’t forget to stop by restaurant booths at the festivals. These days, more often than not, restaurants are highlighting their own dedication to local ingredients and you could find a new favorite here.
Last but not least, the chapter of Slow Food USA in your area, likely also has tips on where and when to buy locally produced food products. Check the phone book (or use your favorite Internet search engine) for a their contact information. You're sure to be tracking your food's journey from "farm to fork" in no time.
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