I am a big proponent of buying local. At the end of the day, it usually costs less and supports your local community. I often complain about where I live, it is not close to major shopping outlets or restaurant. Today, I remember why I love where I live. I went to Walmart earlier and bought a few things. I quickly glanced at their waxy, orange tomatoes – $3.99 a lb.
As I was driving home, I stopped at the farm across the street. These beautiful red tomatoes where just $.75 each or $3.00 for the quart. Just to make you laugh.. this is the checkout system..
So are there any great tips you have for buying local? I know not everyone lives where there is a self serve money box, but where do you get your local food?
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Those tomatoes and beans look delicious! We have a garden and also raise chickens, but love to frequent the Farmer’s Market and farm stands
Money boxes are pretty common here in NH.
Even the local egg stand has a self-serve fridge full of eggs sitting out front, and a money box!
LOL : ) Shannon, I drive by that same stand every day on my way to drop my son off at daycare. The produce is really amazing and so fresh. We also get our produce at Produce Junction in Exton – very inexpensive compared to the grocery store …but nothing compares to our local road side stands!
@Sarah,
The farmer who does this stand, his barn was destroyed with today’s storms.
My mom has chickens and we get our eggs from her, you are right about not being able to eat the store bought anymore, they taste totally different!
Oh you are so lucky to have a farm close by those green beans look yummy, how much were they?? We live in the very urban part of suburban long island and belong to a CSA that delivers from Long island’s north fork. The CSA is great and I really miss it in the winter months, don’t know of any meat or egg CSA’s here though would love that too.
I have tried gardening here but everything i plant tends to get eaten by slugs so I have given up and am leaving it to the farmers.
Enjoy your very fresh produce, I can almost taste those green beans!
Oh, I forgot about the meat! I am a vegetarian, but I buy local beef, pork, chicken, turkey & lamb at a farm that uses grass & other natural types of feed for all of the animals. They also sell raw milk, cheese, etc. & that is all that we use. The eggs are great too & fresh – well, not as fresh as your own backyard, but as fresh as we can get!
We do a small garden too, but with the kids being so little & working, it is hard to devote the time to it. I hope to keep expanding it as the kids get older.
I am a CSA member for two different local farms–one for produce and one for meat. I love getting mostly organic chicken, eggs, beef and produce for lower prices and being able to support my local community. I love pulling an organic Delmonico steak out of my freezer and knowing I paid only $5 per pound for it.
@Diana,
Love it Diana. I really need to consider a CSA for meat.
I have a huge garden with potatoes, corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, peas, green and yellow beans, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, dill, parsley, basil and strawberries. It gives me something to do and I can show my kids where all this good stuff we eat comes from. However, until it is all ready to pick, I shop at a local Farmer’s Market. Straight from the farm fresh. Sometimes I am there when they are unloading their goods. It is all locally grown. Makes me feel good and everything is really cheap and tastes wonderful. I think that is why my kids will eat any kind of fruit and vegetable.
@Grace,
Oh I love a garden! One year we planted a huge garden and it was fabulous -
I get my eggs from my backyard! I just send the kids out to gather breakfast. I can’t even eat store bought eggs anymore, nothing compares to fresh eggs!
@carrie,
he he NOW that is eating local.
I shop at Roots Farmer’s Market every Tuesday in East Petersburg. I have my favorite stands and always walk away with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. My favorite is the “seconds” apple bushel for $5! I also buy loose grapes for $.50 a quart. $1 banana bags start selling in the late afternoon. Everyone should experience Roots. My kids always head for the enormous soft pretzels. 3/$2.50.
@Sharon,
Nice Sharon.. $.50 a quart for grapes is crazy cheap!
I love the self serve money boxes. Today I bought fresh picked Lancaster Co. sweet corn and rhubarb – and the money box is actually a slit in the counter. Get off the beaten path and find a place. Buy one or two things and see if you like it! Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations. On Facebook, my friends and I were discussing the best local places to pick strawberries.
@Holly,
Love the money box! I agree off the beaten path! Well in Lancaster there are many options too!
We belong to a CSA also. It is one of the best choices we have made! The vegetables are delicious…way better than anything at the grocery store! And it forces us to try things that we never would buy normally. They even had a potluck dinner last night & everyone brought different dishes. It was amazing to try new things & so good too! I love that it is all organic and local:)
@Kirsten,
I am going to consider a meat CSA for next fall. I think its a great way to go!
We belong to a CSA (community supported agriculture) we go every week to the farm during the allotted time and pick out 7 items that we want for that week. It is wonderful to get such fresh food and we always miss it during the winter months. It is also a great savings as they charge much less for this option.
@Lauren Manzer,
That is an interesting concept! I have only seen the CSA where they deliver. I will have to look into that.
LOVE it! Those tomatoes look tasty.
I love the “self-serve” money box. Very awesome.