One of the great things I love about living in Cape May County is I can seek out local farms and farmers and buy their produce. Nothing excites me more than when I am driving along on a hot summer day and discover a little roadside stand, humbly poised by edge of a farm or a vast property, offering a beautiful little selection of eggplants or tomatoes. I absolutely delight in this. This is my contribution to the earth, however small it may seem. It’s also my contribution to the community in which I live and love. I urge everyone else to do the same. Support your local farmers. Purchase only what is in season. Why? Well, buying local ensures shorter travel time from field to your kitchen. Out of season produce can be picked up to 6 weeks before you even see it. Seems like a no brainer to me. Why buy local? When buying local, you’re investing your money into the community and supporting the local economy. Imagine how much of your dollar goes to the middleman instead of straight to the farmer when purchasing produce in the larger markets. I don’t even think it’s twenty cents.
While I understand convenience and time is at a premium in today’s hurried lifestyle, if going green is something you are interested in, I think this is a nice way to start. In the end, your grocery bill at check out will be a bit smaller, you will have done something to preserve the environment, and you will have given something back to the community. And I’d bet the farm (!), that those plate of grilled veggies are going to taste just a little bit better.
Here are a few resources to get you in the know.
http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/inseason.htm
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“No one could make a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.”
-Edmund Burke
