Friday, November 4, 2011

10 Ways to Become a Locavore


Locavores are popping up all over the nation. They are a group of people who are focused on where their food come from and commit to eating local foods as much as possible. This may mean supporting a local farmer or are growing much of their own food in their back yard. Whatever their method, they are helping support their local agriculture and local economy!

If you are interested in this movement and want to find a way to get involved, start by contacting your local extension office.

Here in Harrison County, a group of people are calling themselves "Grassroots Locavores" and starting a movement to help change how people look at their food. Their mission is to educate their community on healthier eating habits and help support their local farms who use sustainable agriculture practices. They have started by hosting a Local Harvest Pot Luck dinner open to the public. Each season there will be a new theme and new foods available for the table. The dinner allows people to bring their favorite seasonal dish and share with others.
The next dinner will be held November 7th, at 6:00pm located at the Extension office, 247 Atwood St., Corydon, IN.
If you are interested in attending this one or want more information for future dinners and programs, contact me at the extension office! 812-738-4236








Now just a bit about becoming a locavore!

By Jennifer Maiser, PBS.org

1) Visit a farmers' market
Farmers' markets keep small farms in business through direct sales. Rather than going through a middleman, the farmer takes home nearly all of the money that you hand him or her for a delectable apple or a wonderful bunch of grapes. Need to find a market in your area? Try the USDA's farmers' market guide.

2) Lobby your supermarket
Ask your supermarket manager where your meat, produce and dairy is coming from. Remember that market managers are trained to realize that for each person actually asking the question, several others want to know the same answer. Let the market managers know what's important to you! Your show of interest is crucial to help the supermarket change its purchasing practices.

3) Choose 5 foods in your house that you can buy locally
Rather than trying to source everything locally all at once, try swapping out just 5 local foods. Fruits and vegetables that can be grown throughout the continental U.S. include apples, root vegetables, lettuce, herbs and greens. In most areas, it's also possible to find meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and cheese—all grown, harvested and produced close to your home.

4) Find a local CSA and sign-up!
Through a CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—program you invest in a local farm in exchange for a weekly box of assorted vegetables and other farm products. Most CSA programs provide a discount if you pre-pay for your share on a quarterly or yearly basis because a pre-payment allows the farm to use the cash in the springtime when money is needed for farm equipment or investment in the farm. CSA programs take the work out of buying local food, as the farmer does the worrying for you.

5) Preserve a local food for the winter
There's still time! Though we are headed into winter, many areas still have preservable fruits and vegetables available. Try your hand at making applesauce, apple butter and quince paste. To learn about safe preserving techniques, go to the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

6) Find out what restaurants in your area support local farmers
You can do this by asking the restaurants about their ingredients directly, or by asking your favorite farmers what restaurant accounts they have. Frequent the businesses that support your farmers.

7) Host a local Thanksgiving
Participate in the 100-mile Thanksgiving project by making a dish or an entire meal from local foods.

8) Buy from local vendors
Can't find locally grown? How about locally produced? Many areas have locally produced jams, jellies and breads as well as locally roasted coffee and locally created confections. While these businesses may not always use strictly local ingredients in their products, by purchasing them you are supporting the local economy.






9) Ask about origins
Not locally grown? Then where is it from? Call the producer of your favorite foods to see where the ingredients are from. You'll be amazed how many large processed food companies are unable to tell you where your food came from. By continuing to ask the questions we are sending a message to the companies that consumers want to know the origin of ingredients.

10) Visit a farm
Find a farm in your area and call to make an appointment to see the farm. When time allows, the farmers are usually happy to show a family or a group around the farm. When you visit, ask the farmers what challenges they have had and why they choose to grow what they are growing. Be sure to take the kids along on this journey! Children need to know where their food is coming from in order to feel a sense of connection to their dinner.


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