Transcript Finding the Best Local Foods - Montgomery College Student Web

Finding the Best Local Foods
by Sally Zimmermann
Questions
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Why are local, sustainable foods better?
Do they cost more?
What’s 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?
What to look for
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Comes from within 150 miles
Safe, sustainable farming practices
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Pastured animals
Organic, natural, biological
Biodynamic, integrated, permaculture
IPM - for local fruit
Non-sustainable farming practices
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GMO/GE seeds and feed
Toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizers
Animal drugs including growth hormones
Factory farms or Confined Animal Feeding Operations
(CAFOs)
Benefits
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
1.
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Consider
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Your pocketbook
Your health
Your environment
Animal treatment
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Finding money for food
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Track all your expenses
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Make an overall budget
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Spreadsheet
Prioritize
Keep tracking and fine tuning
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
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Avoid
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Eating out
Vending machines
Prepared beverages
Value-added foods
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
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Tips
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Direct purchase
Quantity discounts, bulk purchase
Seasonal abundance
Seconds
Work for farmer, get paid in “food”
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
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Spend your money where it matters most
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Avoid certification labels, do your own research
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Some fruits/veggies are more likely grown without
pesticides
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Small farms usually don’t get certified
Dirty dozen
The higher up the food chain, the more toxins
concentrate
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Spend extra for organic dairy and meat
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
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Getting the most nutrition for your dollar
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Think inexpensive nutrient dense meals
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Garbage soup (real bone broth with leftovers)
Lentils, rice
Pastured eggs
Oatmeal
Cheaper, less tender cuts of meat (pot roasts, organ
meats)
FAQ 1 - Isn’t eating local more
expensive?
Grocery
~Giant
Organic
Grocery
~MOMs
Farmers’ Food
Market
Club
~Takoma ~NCFC
Apples
(pink lady)
Ground
Beef
$1.89/lb
Brix 15.4
$4.99/lb
$1.99/lb
Brix 14.0
$6.99/lb
$1.99/lb
Brix 14.0
$6.50/lb
$.78/lb
Brix 15.6
$4.00/lb
Eggs
$2.39
$4.19
$3.50
$3.50
$1.99/lb
Brix 11.6
$1.79/lb
Brix 11.1
$1.00/lb
Brix 14.0
Sweet
$.99/lb
Potatoes Brix 9.0
FAQ 2 - Isn’t it harder to obtain local
food?
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Initially, yes
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Sources
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Logistics
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Search internet, ask friends
Help each other, share pick-up
Ultimately, maybe a little, but benefits include
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Getting to know a farmer
Learning about food
Being connected to your food
FAQ 3 - Doesn’t eating local require more
preparation time?
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Initially, yes
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There is a learning curve
Ultimately, no
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You can prepare something in the time it would take to
go out to eat
FAQ 3 - Doesn’t eating local require more
preparation time?
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Advice
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Menu planning
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Bulk up-front preparation
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Old way - find a recipe, then purchase
New way - purchase, then find recipe & improvise
Whole chicken
Soup
Menus
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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
Ways to obtain local food
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Grow your own
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Benefits
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Reduced food costs
Freshness (taste and nutrition)
Convenience
Fresh air, sunshine
Connects you with nature (and your neighbor)
Fun, rewarding and exercise
Possible drawbacks
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No time
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Small yard?
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Grow vertically, container garden, sprout, ferment
Deer and rabbits?
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Herbs, perennials
Fence
Plants and seeds
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Open pollinated seeds
Native plants
Purchase from companies not associated with GMOs
Ways to obtain local food
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Community gardens
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Examples
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Start one
Join an existing one
Benefits
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Community!
Reduced food costs
Freshness (taste and nutrition)
Fresh air, sunshine and connects you with nature
Fun, rewarding and exercise
Ways to obtain local food
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Food clubs
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Definition
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A group that works together to purchase food
About my food club
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Our sources
Purchase in bulk (restaurant pricing)
Meet every other Tuesday night
Everyone volunteers
Web-based software
Benefits
Ways to obtain local food
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Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs)
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How they work
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Farmer benefits
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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
Since everything is “pre-sold,” they have capital
They can focus on farming instead of marketing
Consumer benefits
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Less expensive than a farmers’ market
CSA boxes get filled before other sales
You become part of the farm - newsletters, tours and events
Ways to obtain local food
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On-farm (most close for the winter)
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Pick your own
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Direct-sales
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Least expensive
Try to avoid weekends and Mondays
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
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Markets associated with orchards
Look for ones that grow their own
Ways to obtain local food
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Farmers’ markets
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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
Ways to obtain local food
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Stores
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Most selection, priciest
The smaller stores carry more (and better) local
food than the larger chains
Ask stores to carry your favorite local foods
Ideas for Local Food at Montgomery
College
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Local food club
Direct food purchasing – and highlighting it
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Weekly farmers’ market
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Apples, local pizza flavors
CSA options, students work for food credit
Community garden
Composting
Farm tours
Cooking classes
Lecture series
Break projects
Class projects
Harvest crews and lunch
On my website
www.montgomerycollege.edu/~szimmerman
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Today’s PowerPoint
My notes
My favorites
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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
Summary
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Vote with your pocketbook
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Support local, sustainable farms
Support direct farm-to-consumer sales
Start gradually
Involve others
Keep learning
Enjoy!!!
Questions and comments