GETTING STARTED: IT'S EASY AND IT'S FUN!
The Buy Local Challenge is designed so that you can participate
as little or as much as you like--the important thing is to start
thinking FRESH, LOCAL, SEASONAL when you make choices about buying and
preparing meals, snacking, and dining out.
Meal Planning: An omelet made
from local eggs at breakfast...local tomatoes on your sandwich at
lunch...local wine with your dinner. Stay tuned for some menu planning
ideas for every day of the week, including some fabulous recipes
designed to showcase local products. (Coming soon.)
Shopping: Did you notice that Buy Local Week is eight days long? That's so you'll have TWO Saturdays to hit the
farmers' market in your area. Now would be a perfect time to stop by
that colorful farm stand you pass on the way home from work, or pull
into the farm with the fresh eggs sign out front!
Need help finding genuine local
products? In Southern Maryland (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince
Georges and St. Mary's counties), the
So. Maryland, So Good Web
site offers an extensive database you can search by product, by
county and by farm name. To find local products in Southern Maryland,
click HERE. For products elsewhere in Maryland,
click on this interactive map.
Dining Out: Many restaurants
offer food fresh from a local farm. The So. Maryland, So Good Web
site offers a listing of this region's restaurants that feature local
products.
Eat Seasonally: Enjoying the
freshest greens or the juiciest peach means eating products during their
various growing seasons. Visit our TIPS page for
a seasonal produce chart.
Snacking: Don't forget to
think local when you're craving that mid-afternoon snack! Flavorful,
crunchy veggies in a light dip is far healthier than salty snacks or
candy. Our TIPS page features a quick list of
ten ways to incorporate healthy local products into your busy lifestyle.
