GONE LOCAL Week Four: It's Not Just Personal, It's Sacred

The best thing about shopping locally is the people. Now that I’ve become a bit of a regular at the Central Market, I’ve gotten to know some of the vendors there. I truly enjoy talking with the sellers about the products and the market.

The people who own, manage, or work at the stands and small businesses I’ve visited are passionate about what they sell or the service they provide. They have to be because none of them are in it for the money, that much is obvious. I appreciate people who feel strongly about what they do. Confucius said, “Choose  a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” I find that to be just about the best advice I’ve ever encountered. It’s rarely been about the money for me in any job I’ve held, and I grow weary when I encounter the opposite.

I’ve learned a lot from the store/stand owners I’ve gotten to know. I‘ve learned how to cook purple rice – freaked the kids out. I learned that if you quickly pour off the water you run through your tea the first time, and then add new water to steep, you’ll remove much of the caffeine. I’ve learned to appreciate all the ways vinegar can enhance the food you cook, without adding calories. And this week I learned the difference between golden and brown raisins. The golden ones are sulfured the same way as apricots. That’s what makes them soft and plump – more marketable and more expensive. The sulfur is only for aesthetic reasons and many people have reactions to sulfur.

I had an interesting discussion about the differences between four different types of fingerling potatoes at another stand. And laughed at how gnarled and bent their carrots were – just like the ones I grow in my rocky soil. When I purchased my pork loin, the butcher asked how I planned to cook it and we discussed the benefits of using a crock pot. After I paid, he said to be sure to stop back and let him know how it turned out. I can’t imagine anyone at the Giant supermarket asking (or even caring) about how I planned to prepare my dinner that night, except maybe my friend Liz who works there, but only because I know her in other realms besides Giant.

I stopped to buy coffee beans and thought of the comment my husband had made the day before when we talked about his coffee needs. He said he was using his expensive fair-trade coffee beans from the market more sparingly because he knew what they cost. He also said that every time he made coffee he thought of the friendly guy in the Rastafarian hat who sold him the beans and wondered how much money he made at his little stand. Buying local makes every purchase personal.

It also makes it somewhat sacred. While my husband feels a kinship with his coffee guy and I adore my tea lady, the kids view every Cheezit bag as hallowed and they dole out the servings mindfully. No longer do they abandon entire bowls full on the counter to go stale and be fed to the chickens. They know every Cheezit box may be their last since I’ve only found one locally owned store that offers them and it’s not one I’m inclined to patronize that often.

Farmers Markets don’t just offer fruits and vegetables anymore. Many offer meats, cheeses, breads, and grains, plus dried fruits and nuts, honey, coffee, even wine. We often think of farmers markets as a treasure of the past, but in fact Farmers Markets are increasing in numbers every year. According to the USDA, there are 10% more markets in 2012 than the previous years. The number of markets has nearly doubled since 2004. And the more we patronize them, the more they will continue to multiply and offer more days and hours to shop.

Shopping at Local Markets where you can meet the seller, and many times the grower or baker or butcher, is rewarding not just for the body, but for the mind, and most especially for the soul.

Buy Fresh, Buy Local

I’m going to assume since you’re reading this blog that deep down inside you believe in the need for environmentally conscious, locally grown food. If you don’t, you could just click over to something more your speed right now. I think the biggest stumbling block for all of us is reconciling the desire with the practicality. It’s just not that easy to find the good stuff and it’s not that easy to know if it truly is good stuff or just the same old stuff with a new label and a higher price tag.

It’s discouraging, but it’s not something we should give up on. The more we seek out and support local products, the more options will become available to us. If you want to incorporate local, fresh foods in to your life, but don’t have the land or knowledge or time to grow it yourself, than get yourself to a CSA. CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. These farms sell “shares” of produce which means that each week you stop by the farm or the designated pick-up locations (many CSAs have drop offs in the cities or suburbs) and receive your share of that week’s produce. You don’t have a whole lot of say in what you get, but that makes it kind of like Christmas each week. Besides how great is it that someone else did all the grunt work and you get the ultra-fresh veggies?

When you join a CSA, I promise you will discover fruits and vegetables you never knew existed. Many CSAs also offer information on how to prepare the things they grow. Some allow you to come to the farm and work off part of the cost of your share through your labor. This is a great way to learn about gardening. Some CSAs offer eggs, flowers, milk, and meats in addition to produce.

Another great benefit of a CSA is that you can meet like-minded people and come away not just with a box of fresh veggies, but some life long friends. So it’s really a win-win for everyone involved. To find a CSA near you check out www.localharvest.org. Sometimes there’s a waiting list for a share, so if you think this is something you are even slightly inclined to get involved in, get your name on a list. And don’t think it’s too early in the season to start receiving produce. Despite the snow around us, spring is upon us.

Another way to find locally grown foods is to visit a Farmer’s Market. And be sure to talk to the “farmers” there. Ask questions and be skeptical of anything packaged or out of season. Not all Farmer’s Market organizers are very discerning when it comes to their suppliers. When you find real farmers who use organic methods, make every effort to support them. That means making a commitment to getting there each week. If that’s difficult for you, talk to them about other ways of buying their produce. Maybe they sell their products on additional days in other places or maybe they’d sell directly to you from their own farm. I think we get stuck in the grocery store mentality of our only options are the ones on the shelf in front of us. Speak up and you’ll appreciate the flexibility of buying directly from the farmers instead of the marketing specialists.
For those of you who live in Southern York County, let me be the first to tell you about a new Farmer’s Market starting up in my hometown – New Freedom. It begins this April on the third Saturday of each month. You can find it in front of the Red Caboose along the Rail Trail in “downtown” New Freedom from 10am-1pm. The organizers are just getting it together and are looking for more local farms to set up stands. If you or someone you know would like to apply for a spot, send me an e-mail and I’ll put you in touch with the right people.

I’d like to also let local readers know about another new opportunity to enjoy local foods that just turned up in our area. Well, actually it’s in Maryland, but since we basically hug the border around here, it feels like “our area”. There’s a new restaurant open just north of Hereford in the old Wagon Wheel Restaurant on the Susquehanna Trail. Souper Natural opened a few weeks ago and serves scrumptious soups, sandwiches and out of this world desserts made from locally and sustainably grown ingredients. They have fruit juice “sodas”, handmade breads, creative soups, and an inspired menu with reasonable prices. A friend and I recently had lunch there and couldn’t begin to describe the bliss experienced from their Blueberry Bread Pudding with Lemon Curd and Fresh Cream. Amazing. I watched as the elderly couple at the table next to us shared a Hot Fudge Sundae and were overcome with delight, so much so, that the other couple sitting with them relented and ordered one too. Wonderful place. I hope you’ll give them a try and help make Souper Natural such a success that more restaurants are inspired to follow their ways.

Finding local food is not always easy, but it’s the right thing to do not just for your mind and heart, but your stomach too!

Where to find food

If you’re already living the organic life, this information may be old news. If you’re new to it, I hope it’s helpful. Either way, I’d welcome your comments and ideas about other ways to find organic food.

Start with your local grocery stores. Most stores carry organic brands now and some even have organic aisles. You’ll soon discover who has a better selection and decent pricing. I mentioned before that you’ll pay dearly for the little certified organic symbol. So the best way to handle grocery shopping is the same way people have always saved money on their grocery bill – watch for sales, cut coupons, buy in bulk.

If an item you use frequently goes on sale – buy all you can. Most food can be stored. Cans and boxed goods usually have an expiration date – check the date and if the sale is really good – buy all you can. Not only does it save you money now, it will save you money later when you don’t have to go back to the grocery store for more.

I’ve discovered that you can freeze all sorts of things – nuts, cheese, bread, tortillas, butter – and they keep just fine. I keep flax meal, almond meal, and wheat germ in my freezer because they stay fresher, longer. You’ll soon discover how handy it is to have extra on hand and you’ll save money buying items on sale and storing them. If your favorite organic fruit or veggie goes on sale, buy it in bulk and can or freeze it.

As manufacturers are discovering the demand for organic items, more and more options are becoming available. And with that comes competition and with competition come – coupons! I find coupons for organic items in the newspaper, the store circular and in the organic aisle. There’s even a free coupon circular devoted to organic products available in many grocery stores.

If you are searching for an organic version or a particular organic brand, don’t hesitate to ask a store manager. Most managers will be happy to order products they know will have a guaranteed customer. Also, the more often organic choices are requested, the more likely it is that your store will continue to expand its organic offerings.

The other place most people start when they begin their quest to “go organic” is the health food store. I am blessed with a health food store near me that is, in my opinion, one of the best in the nation. That may not be the case for everyone. So a word of caution when approaching health food stores – many times the products you find there are expensive and if the store is not thriving, the turnover of products might not be great – check expiration dates! I’ve been burned too many times at stores like these. And although there are some wonderful stores out there that have introduced me to new products and expanded my organic knowledge, there are also many that make their money selling supplements or are struggling to compete with the bigger stores, so be careful! That said, if you find a good one- support it!

Some grocery stores and many health food stores, sell items in bulk bins. As a child, I remember the bulk aisle at my hometown grocery store – it had just about every candy you could ever want, plus stale cereal and rice that had little gray bugs in it. Times have certainly changed. Most stores that offer bulk items are meticulous about how these items are handled. Typically they require that you wear protective gloves before opening the bins. I have to make a side bar here and say that if you are a germaphobe – bulk aisles are not the place for you. I subscribe to the school of health that says we all need to eat our peck of dirt in our lives and I don’t get hung up on these things. I do the best I can and I trust that everyone else does too.

Buying in bulk is good in so many ways! First, it definitely saves you money because it’s priced cheaper and you can buy only what you need. This is especially handy when it comes to experimenting with expensive spices. Why buy a bottle for $15 when all you need is a half teaspoon? It’s also great when you are trying out a new food. You can buy a modest amount until you’ve test driven it on your family. Second, it encourages you to try new things. I doubt I would have ever discovered artichoke pasta or raw cashews if it weren’t for the bulk aisle. There are so many options and, personally, I get inspired when I see all those bins just waiting for me to open them. Thirdly, you are doing a good thing for the planet when you buy in bins. You are saying “no” to wasteful packaging. Less packaging means less space needed for transport, which means less waste of fossil fuels. It’s the way all food used to be sold before we were convinced otherwise by marketing specialists.

Farm Stands and Farmers Markets are great places to shop for local, organic food. If I’m looking to buy some vegetables this is my favorite place to start. Driving down a road, I see a small card table set up at the end of a driveway with a shoe box weighted down with a large rock and corn and tomatoes piled high on the table and in crates surrounding it. Not a soul in site. Only in the country could you find this scene. Still, I can’t resist them. You won’t find cheaper, fresher produce anywhere.

Lots of farmers big and small, set up farm stands on their own property. If you stop and meet them you’ll not only find a good deal, you’ll make a new friend. Farmers need our support to survive. Everyone I know grumbles about the loss of farmland to development, but if we really want to do something about this, we need to put our money where our mouth is and patronize these farmers. When a farmer sells to a distributor he makes a little money, but when he sells directly to a customer he makes a lot more. Also, meeting the farmer (or some relative there of) gives you the opportunity to quiz them on their farming methods – particularly their use of fertilizers and pesticides. The first time I asked a farmer how he farmed I felt kind of obnoxious and presumptuous, but he was more than happy to talk, at length, about his methods. Note: Farmers aren’t in the farm business just for the money.

Farmers Markets can be a little more expensive than a farm stand, but they are convenient. It’s also a great way to meet lots of farmers in one stop. If you ask enough questions, you might discover that the farm is near your home or that they have stands in other places. If you like their methods, you can ask them which stores and restaurants they sell to so you know where to find their goods.