Purchasing meat, produce, and other foods directly from local family farms has become increasingly popular in recent years because it helps small local farmers, keeps money in the community, and reduces the amount of gas and energy used to transport food over long distances. Farmers markets, farm shares, and even some grocery stores that try to support local farmers sell meat and produce from family farms.
Farmers markets are one of the most convenient ways to purchase directly from local family farms. Throughout the growing season, many communities hold farmers markets on a regular basis, sometimes as frequently as once a week, usually on weekends. Local farmers markets should be advertised in your community’s newsletters or newspapers, on the city’s website, or by calling your local government offices for more information.
You’ll find many different booths selling a wide variety of foods at the farmers market. Fresh produce, whatever is in season, may be available at some booths, while meat or pasta may be available at others. Other booths sell hot-off-the-grill lunches to hungry customers, as well as iced drinks to quench their thirst on hot days.
The experience of shopping at a farmers market varies depending on which one you visit, so be sure to visit a few in your area. You may find that some have a better selection of the food you’re looking for, whether it’s produce, pasta, or freshly baked bread. Other farmers markets may focus on feeding and entertaining customers.
Farm shares, also known as community supported agriculture, are another way to buy directly from family farms. In essence, you purchase a share of the farm’s output and receive consistent amounts of food throughout the growing season — whatever is in season at the time. Some family farms may offer a variety of share options; for example, you may be able to choose between a farm share that focuses solely on vegetables, one that focuses solely on fruit, or one that combines the two.
Farm shares are a great way to support family farms because they allow owners to better predict how much money they will make throughout the growing season. Because the food is not transported first to the farmers market and then to the buyers’ homes, significantly less gas is used. Instead, the buyers pick up the food directly from the farm. Some farmers include delivery in their farm share prices, which saves even more gas and reduces pollution because the farmers can plan a route and deliver all of the food in one trip.
Farm shares are frequently sold out and may be difficult to obtain due to the popularity of community supported agriculture among “locavores,” or people whose diets consist primarily of locally produced foods. Some people live in areas where farmers markets are scarce. You might be able to buy locally produced food from organic, community-friendly grocery stores if you don’t have any other options. These purchases will not directly benefit family farms, but they will aid in the support of small, local farming operations rather than large corporate farms.