| Farm
to Table
Not so many decades ago, fresh foods either came from
local sources or simply were not available.
Choices were limited to the availability of local varieties during
short seasons, so consumers had to purchase fruits and vegetables
from local farmers or grow their own if they preferred fresh-picked.
In today’s world of supermarkets and "big-box" discount
outlets, it is still often difficult to find truly farm-fresh premium
produce and food products. However, it’s only by buying locally
grown foods that can we enjoy their optimum nutritional benefits
and help in a significant way to support local farmers and preserve
agricultural land.
Free-range poultry and grass-fed beef and lamb are increasingly
sought by environmentally-conscious diners as they realize the importance
of supporting small farms to preserve agricultural land. These so-called
"labeled" or "boutique" food products may command
somewhat higher prices, but in many markets, consumers are more
than willing to pay a bit more for the assurance of a top quality
source.
As foodservice professionals, home cooks, and restaurant diners,
the daily choices we make about what to eat do in fact help to preserve
environmental quality for generations to come. The sources listed
below offer ways you can support sustainable farming in your area.
For great recipes and selection recommendations for fresh produce,
Deborah Madison’s
Local Flavors: Cooking and Eating from America's Farmers'
Markets is an excellent resource for both professional
and home cooking. Another, focusing on New York City’s famous
Greenmarket, also offers an abundance of recipes and inspiration:
The Greenmarket Cookbook : Recipes, Tips and Lore from
the World's Famous Urban Farmers' Market (Joel
Patraker and Joan Schwartz, authors).
Local
Harvest Provides the Web’s largest directory
of local sources of sustainably grown food, with 6000 members nationwide.
According to this Santa Cruz, Calfiornia-based informational resource,
almost 80% of the nearly two million farms in the USA. are small
farms, and a large percentage are family-owned. With more and more
of these farmers now selliing their products directly to the public
via community-supported agriculture programs, farmers’ markets,
food coops, u-pick programs, farm stands, and other direct marketing
channels, Local Harvest makes it easy for chefs and food lovers
to locate them.
Chefs’
Collaborative 262 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02116; tel.
(617)236-5200 Seeking to improve the quality and taste of the foods
we eat while fostering sustainable agriculture, this national organization
provides a guide to member restaurants that support the use of local,
seasonal, and artisanal ingredients. Contact them for a free wallet-sized
card listing member restaurants.
USDA
Directory of U.S. Local Farmers’ Markets A state-by-state
guide to farmers’ markets featuring local produce and food
products. Though further web searching, you may find that your state
may have additional listings as well. (For example, the California
Federation of Certified Farmers’ Markets and North
Carolina’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.)
Open
Air Markets of the World Features open-air flea, flower,
and food markets throughout the world, including the USA, Canada,
and Mexico.
The
National Association of Farmers Markets Provides a
comprehensive listing of farmers markets throughout the cities and
countryside of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
Community
Supported Agriculture in Australia This popular system
of food production and supply has been running for over 20 years
and involves more than 16 million people.
Epicurious
Sustainable cuisine: tips on finding sustainable products and a
handy sustainable seafood chart.
http://www.epicurious.com/features/articles/sustainable
/intro
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