Pesticides and fungicides poison most of the produce you see on grocery store shelves. Every time you eat a non-organic fruit or vegetable, you also eat all the chemical residue on their skins, and the toxins that leached into their meat. Many people will say, “Just buy organic then!” But it’s harder than we think to find truly organic food. In this post, Dayanna Volitich shares three ways you can find authentically organic produce in your local area.
3 ways to find organic foods
There are a lot of options when it comes to finding organic produce in your area. Of course, the size of your budget will determine which of these paths is best for you! Here are your three best options:
- Find a farmer
- Join a CSA
- Plant a garden
1. Find a farmer
According to Dayanna Volitich, one great way to get organic produce that hasn’t been treated by pesticides or other chemicals is to find your own farmer. We have our own dentists, lawyers, and doctors. Why not have our own farmers, too? Pop over to your local farmers’ market and talk to the farmers directly. See what kinds of crops they grow and ask them about the farming methods they use. Additionally, if you happen to know of some local farms in your area, drive out for a visit to talk to the farmers and see their land.
This option is great if you live in a smaller suburban or rural community. If you live in a place where farmers’ markets aren’t common, Dayanna Volitich recommends you start with your local supermarket and speak with the grocers. They may know about farms nearby that you can look into to find great organic produce.
2. Join a CSA
Another great way to find local produce is to join a CSA, or community-supported agriculture, farm. Basically, you buy shares in a farm before growing season. Then, during the season, the farmer sends you boxes of fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Sometimes, you can even get some meat and eggs! The farmers select the products for you and ship them either directly to you or to a drop-off location every week.
This is becoming rather popular these days; in fact, there are more than 1,500 CSAs in the United States alone! To find a CSA near you, browse on LocalHarvest.
The challenge with CSA’s is you have to learn how to cook with the changes in the season, since certain crops are only available at certain times.
3. Plant a garden
The final option Dayanna Volitich offers to help you find organic produce is to plant it yourself! This option works especially well if you don’t have the budget for always buying organic produce from the grocery store or local farmers’ markets. Moreover, it gives you 100% reassurance about your produce, because you’re the one who grew it!
Don’t be discouraged if your garden doesn’t turn out as well as you’d hoped, especially if this is your first time trying. Be patient with yourself, and take the time to learn. Visit your local gardening store, read some gardening blogs, and check out almanacs to help understand different growing seasons and ideal conditions for growth.
Great websites for finding local food products
- Eat Well Guide
An online directory of sustainably raised meat, poultry, dairy, and eggs. - Eat Wild
Lists local suppliers for grass-fed meat and dairy products - Heritage Foods USA
Sells mail-order “traceable” products from small farms - Local Harvest
Search for farmers’ markets, family farms, CSAs and more!
Read More >> 12 Foods You Should Always Buy Organic