Finding the Best Local Foods

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Finding the Best Local Foods

• by Sally Zimmermann

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Questions

• Why are local, sustainable foods better?
• Do they cost more?
• Whats involved in eating seasonal?
• How can I find a local, sustainable, family farm?
  
• Should I join a CSA?
• What can we do at MC to support local,
  sustainable foods?

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What to look for

• Comes from within 150 miles
• Safe, sustainable farming practices
• Pastured animals
• Organic, natural, biological
• Biodynamic, integrated, permaculture
• IPM - for local fruit
• Non-sustainable farming practices
• GMO/GE seeds and feed
• Toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers
• Animal drugs including growth hormones
• Factory farms or Confined Animal Feeding
  Operations (CAFOs)

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Benefits

1. Nutrition
2. Taste
3. Supports our local economy
4. Connects us with our food and the seasons
5. Community
6. Accountability and traceability
7. Food safety and food security
8. Preserves open space
9. Environment and watershed
10. Genetic diversity and wildlife
11. Preserves small local farms for future generations

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Consider
• Your pocketbook
• Your health
• Your environment
• Animal treatment

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Finding money for food
• Track all your expenses
• Spreadsheet
• Make an overall budget
• Prioritize
• Keep tracking and fine tuning

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
• Avoid
• Eating out
• Vending machines
• Prepared beverages
• Value-added foods

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
• Tips
• Direct purchase
• Quantity discounts, bulk purchase
• Seasonal abundance
• Seconds
• Work for farmer, get paid in food

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
• Spend your money where it matters most
• Avoid certification labels, do your own research
• Small farms usually dont get certified
• Some fruits/veggies are more likely grown without
  pesticides
• Dirty dozen
• The higher up the food chain, the more toxins
  concentrate
• Spend extra for organic dairy and meat

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?

• Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
• Think inexpensive nutrient dense meals
• Garbage soup (real bone broth with leftovers)
• Lentils, rice
• Pastured eggs
• Oatmeal
• Cheaper, less tender cuts of meat (pot roasts,
  organ meats)

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FAQ 1 - Isnt eating local more expensive?
Grocery Giant Organic Grocery MOMs Farmers Market Takoma Food Club NCFC
Apples (pink lady) 1.89/lb Brix 15.4 1.99/lb Brix 14.0 1.99/lb Brix 14.0 .78/lb Brix 15.6
Ground Beef 4.99/lb 6.99/lb 6.50/lb 4.00/lb
Eggs 2.39 4.19 3.50 3.50
Sweet Potatoes .99/lb Brix 9.0 1.99/lb Brix 11.6 1.79/lb Brix 11.1 1.00/lb Brix 14.0
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FAQ 2 - Isnt it harder to obtain local food?

• Initially, yes
• Sources
• Search internet, ask friends
• Logistics
• Help each other, share pick-up
• Ultimately, maybe a little, but benefits include
• Getting to know a farmer
• Learning about food
• Being connected to your food

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FAQ 3 - Doesnt eating local require more
preparation time?

• Initially, yes
• There is a learning curve
• Ultimately, no
• You can prepare something in the time it would
  take to go out to eat

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FAQ 3 - Doesnt eating local require more
preparation time?

• Advice
• Menu planning
• Old way - find a recipe, then purchase
• New way - purchase, then find recipe improvise
• Bulk up-front preparation
• Whole chicken
• Soup
• Menus
• Reuse favorite dinners
• Leftovers for lunch (or breakfast)
• A roast chicken can evolve into a few different
  meals
• Grab and go foods apples, nuts, cheese

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Ways to obtain local food

• Grow your own
• Benefits
• Reduced food costs
• Freshness (taste and nutrition)
• Convenience
• Fresh air, sunshine
• Connects you with nature (and your neighbor)
• Fun, rewarding and exercise
• Possible drawbacks
• No time
• Herbs, perennials
• Small yard?
• Grow vertically, container garden, sprout,
  ferment
• Deer and rabbits?
• Fence
• Plants and seeds
• Open pollinated seeds
• Native plants
• Purchase from companies not associated with GMOs

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Ways to obtain local food

• Community gardens
• Examples
• Start one
• Join an existing one
• Benefits
• Community!
• Reduced food costs
• Freshness (taste and nutrition)
• Fresh air, sunshine and connects you with nature
• Fun, rewarding and exercise

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Ways to obtain local food

• Food clubs
• Definition
• A group that works together to purchase food
• About my food club
• Our sources
• Purchase in bulk (restaurant pricing)
• Meet every other Tuesday night
• Everyone volunteers
• Web-based software
• Benefits

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Ways to obtain local food

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
• How they work
• You get a box of food (produce, meat, cheese)
  once per week for about 15 weeks
• A produce share - around 500, feeds 4 or 5 and
  can be split
• Early-bird discounts and add-on options
• Pick-up locations
• Farmer benefits
• Since everything is pre-sold, they have capital
  
• They can focus on farming instead of marketing
• Consumer benefits
• Less expensive than a farmers market
• CSA boxes get filled before other sales
• You become part of the farm - newsletters, tours
  and events

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Ways to obtain local food

• On-farm (most close for the winter)
• Pick your own
• Least expensive
• Try to avoid weekends and Mondays
• Direct-sales
• Significant discounts for bulk purchase
• Many require you to pre-order, some offer early
  birds
• Some have group drop-off locations
• Some have apprenticeship programs
• Roadside stands
• Markets associated with orchards
• Look for ones that grow their own

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Ways to obtain local food

• Farmers markets
• Usually you meet the farmers
• Best selection when market opens
• Best values when market is about to close
• Bring a large bag
• Food stamps, cash and credit cards
• Free samples
• If you want something not offered, ask
• Prepared food, seasonal plants, and specialty
  items
• Producers only markets

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Ways to obtain local food

• Stores
• Most selection, priciest
• The smaller stores carry more (and better) local
  food than the larger chains
• Ask stores to carry your favorite local foods

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Ideas for Local Food at Montgomery College

• Local food club
• Direct food purchasing and highlighting it
• Apples, local pizza flavors
• Weekly farmers market
• CSA options, students work for food credit
• Community garden
• Composting
• Farm tours
• Cooking classes
• Lecture series
• Break projects
• Class projects
• Harvest crews and lunch

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On my websitewww.montgomerycollege.edu/szimmerma
n

• Todays PowerPoint
• My notes
• My favorites
• Search tools for farmers markets, family farms,
  CSAs, and organic food
• Family farms - including pick your own and
  roadside markets
• Farmers markets
• Stores
• Plant and seed sources
• Books and movies
• Organizations
• Websites
• My e-mail

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Summary

• Vote with your pocketbook
• Support local, sustainable farms
• Support direct farm-to-consumer sales
• Start gradually
• Involve others
• Keep learning
• Enjoy!!!

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Questions and comments