Visit local farmers markets. While they may not be certified organic, ask about their farming methods. They might be pesticide-free, and happy to sell direct to you at below-supermarket prices.- Find a Farmers Market close to you, complements of Chef2Chef.net.
- OrganicToBe.org offers some tips for shopping at farmers markets.
- Seasonal Chef presents seasonal recipes for people buying produce at local farmers markets.
- If you do not have access to a local Farmers Market, you might like Farmers Market Online, which bills itself as "an inexpensive opportunity for small-scale and home-based entrepreneurs to sell their homemade, home grown and self-produced products to shoppers worldwide."
Drive to the actual farm(s) and buy direct.
- LocalHarvest.org maintains "a definitive and reliable 'living' public nationwide directory of small farms" as well as farmers markets and other local food sources.
- Ask the farm manager if they work with a person or company that may deliver local produce direct from the farm to your home. (Sometimes the overall cost is less than driving to the farm yourself.)
- And ask about a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which is kind of an on-going partnership with the farmer.
VIDEO: Think of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) as a holistic approach to the production of sustainable food grown in urban areas. This video presents the perspective of one urban farmer, why she got into this type of business, and the benefits to her farm and her 'partners.' (Food Network)
Organic farming methods offer several benefits for the environment and human health as a whole, but unfortunately, there are many misconceptions and falsehoods being spread regarding organic food and farming methods, both by proponents and detractors. Here are the facts about what organic methods can do for us and what they can't.
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