Buy Fresh, Buy Local

Do you know where your food is coming from? Most of you like me buy food from the grocery store and have no idea where it has come from and what it has gone through to get to you. I personally do not like this thought, so I like to buy fresh and local as much as possible. It is wonderful to know where your food is coming from. Of course you want to do your research and make sure the food is being treated properly. But, I highly encourage you start by picking one item that you will switch and buy local. Before you know it you will be eating many healthy local foods. I am lucky to have a few WONDERFUL farms that are only a few mintues away from my house where I get most of my items. Then the rest I get delivered to my house through a wonderful program. Check into it because you may have places close by and never knew it. If there isn't local places then I am sure there are many co-ops and delivery services where you can access local foods.

If you live in the Indy area here are some great places to buy local food. Click on the links to see about these places and services! One of Todd and I's favorite restuarnts is the Traders Point Creamery. A nice lunch or dinner with all organic local food from the farm! We love it so much that we already have reservations for Valentines Day! :)

Farm Fresh Delivery
Apple Family Farm
Tuttles Orchard
Traders Point Creamery

Here are some FAQ's about Buying Fresh and local.

So where does my food come from and why does it matter?

For many of us, the location of the farmer who grew our food remains a mystery due to the long distances our food must travel to reach us. It has been estimated that in the US the average item of food has traveled 1500 to 2500 miles to reach your dinner table (see the WorldWatch report Home Grown).

Except for those who eat only from their own vegetable gardens, it is virtually impossible to keep track of every aspect of their food. But if the average food item travels at least 1500 miles from unknown sources, how can you know anything about the way it was produced? How can you be sure that the food was processed safely? How can you know whether or not pesticides, GMOs, antibiotics, or growth hormones were used?

Why is buying local important?

You will know the seeds it grows from, the farmers who produce it, and the routes that carry it from the fields to our tables.

Local foods systems provide several advantages over conventional and global markets. Buying locally strengthens regional economies, supports family farms, provides delicious, "fresh-from-the-field" foods for consumers, preserves the local landscape, and can help foster a sense of community.

Buying local food strengthens your regional economy

Locally-produced food is often fresher than conventional products grown far away and shipped in trucks for several days.
You can give local farmers feedback on the quality and freshness of their produce.
Buying local food fosters community growth

Buying local lets you connect with your food producer concerning the safety and nutrition of your foods

Locally-grown foods can be high in nutrients, often reaching you within 24 hours of harvest, whereas produce shipped from out of state may be up to a week old and has often suffered from severe nutrient loss.
When you buy locally, you can ask whether the farmers use safe farming practices, what they spray on their crops, and what they feed to their animals.

Here is a list of items that I have chosen to buy local.

Farm Fresh Eggs-I buy my eggs from the Apple Family Farm where the chickens are grassfed, free range, and treated very well. I love these eggs and can hardly eat eggs from the store now.

Milk, Yoguart, and Cheese-I buy these items from Traders Point Creamery or the Apple Family Farm. I am also currently on the waiting list to get my milk from the the Apple Farm and I am so excited about! Both of these places carry dairy that is obviously local, but more importantly the cows are grassfed, no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides used.

Jelly (no sugar-just natural jelly), raw honey, and popcorn.

Fruits and Veggies-I get most of my produce delivered to my house from farm fresh delivery or Tuttles Orchard. Farm Fresh Delivery is wonderful because they deliver organic and local produce right to your door!

My next switch is that I look forward adding all of my meats from these local places too.