Over the past couple of years, we saw the importance of the local food system. Still, in some places, we experience food shortages on items we import, but Oklahoma has hubs for people to connect with local food and products.
When we support our local farmers or markets that connect customers with local farmers, such as the Farm Hippie, everyone wins. The farmers are able to support and feed the community and we are able to support the local economy and the families in it.
Today, I would like to share some of the best ways to support our local farmers.
- Choose locally sourced restaurants
The Farm to Table movement has really taken off in the past few years. Restaurants across the state are highlighting local, seasonal, high-quality ingredients provided by our backyard. This article from TravelOK highlights just a few Farm to Table restaurants from Oklahoma. Make sure to check out these places as you travel around Oklahoma.
2. Embrace biodiversity.
Find out which foods are your region’s specialties and try those rare varieties. Instead of your commercial turkey, for instance, find a heritage breed unique to your area and discover a wonderful array of new flavors. Choosing local varieties is not only good for the local food system but also helps preserve genetic diversity.
3. Look for Local Brands in Stores.
As the local food movement grows, more conventional stores are starting to add locally produced items to their shelves. They might even have a section of the store to highlight these products. To ensure local products stay on the shelves, and encourage grocers to stock even more options, purchase these items.
4. Make suggestions.
If your local supermarkets don’t stock locally sourced foods, ask. Tell your friends to ask, too. Store owners want to provide customers with in-demand products, and respond well to consumer suggestions. If there is enough call for local products, owners will be more likely to bring these items into stores. This also includes farm markets, such as the Farm Hippie. If you have a source for a local product, please let them know! They’re always willing to try new products that will resonate and connect customers to local farmers.
5. Plan your menus around what’s being harvested.
Even if everything you buy isn’t produced in your community, you still contribute to the local food system by building seasonal foods into your recipes. If you’re at a loss and need inspiration, check out Replenishing Oklahoma for seasonal recipe ideas!
In colder months, swap the heat-loving basil in pesto for a winter green like kale or beet greens. Switch the peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes in your summertime pasta for broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts in the fall.
6. Volunteer.
Yes, you read that right. Many small-scale farms can use a little extra help with a variety of tasks around the property. Volunteering at a local farm can enable you to learn more about your local agriculturalist and the work they do every day while building lasting relationships and giving back to your local food system.
The owners of the Farm Hippie, Ash, and Carrie Beth, recently started a non-profit, which serves to enrich, educate, and offer accessible community-focused approaches to preservation, sustainability, nature-focused education, generational heritage, and environmental enrichment. If you’re interested in supporting the local food system, this is a great place to get plugged in.
7. Find Local Food
Obviously one of the best ways to support Oklahoma farmers is to buy directly from them. Here are a couple of sources to check out for your area.
Local Farmers Markets
Farmers’ Markets are growing more popular in Oklahoma. They’re a great way to network and get to know your farmer. Shopping at a farmer’s market is more fun than wandering around the endless aisles at grocery stores. The food is fresh because it’s usually picked that morning or the day before. You get to chat and get to meet your farmers face to face. A lot of times, farmers markets have music and other activities making it a much more enjoyable event than your typical shopping trip.
Farm Hippie is an indoor, year-round farmers market and it also hosts different events so customers can get to know the producers, ask questions and learn more about the local food systems.
Oklahoma Produce Stands
In Oklahoma, roadside stands are everywhere, especially in the summer. They’re also a great way to get fresh, local food and they’re usually conveniently located on your way home. Again, it’s a great way to connect to your food, learn more about your farmer, and ask questions.
Farmers Co-ops
Agricultural Co-ops are usually controlled by farmers, ranchers, or growers. Through their cooperatives, farmers have control, as elected board members to make decisions that affect them. The farmers market their products together and share the supplies, and services they need to market to their customers better. The co-ops are available online and bring the food to a central pickup, making it convenient to shop for whatever you need. We have several in different regions of Oklahoma, so do a quick Google search or ask your local farmer about other ways they distribute food.
CSAs
Community-Supported Agriculture is one of my favorite ways to eat seasonally. Typically, at the beginning of the season, you purchase a weekly “share” of vegetables, fruit, bread, eggs, milk, meat, or whatever your local CSA has available. Every week the farmer brings you an order. This takes the guesswork out of everything.
Sometimes it’s difficult to find ways to use the produce available, but it also forces you to get creative and eat healthier, so you don’t let the food go to waste. This program benefits the farmers because they give out whatever extra they have and they are able to guestimate how much food they need to grow to meet the demand.
Farm Produce Stores
Farm stores are usually small stores that sell only the produce they grow and a few other local products. This can also be a collective of farmers, but it definitely makes it easier to find what’s in season and buy from local farmers.
Often, farms have a way to buy directly on the farm. Sometimes it’s a little shop, other times you can meet the farmer and buy in person. This is often a cheaper option because they don’t have to travel.
Search
Ask in your locally based Facebook groups, such as the Farm Hippie Farmers Market 411. There are also farm search engines like Local Harvest, Local Food directories from the USDA, and even a Google search to find options to eat seasonally in your area. When you do find your favorite way to support local farmers, make sure to promote them and encourage all your friends to buy from them too!
These are just a few ways to support our local farmers. There are so many benefits for our economy and community when we support our local businesses, farmers are no exception. I hope this post gave you some great ideas and please, feel free to comment or contact us with your favorite farmers or local produce outlets!
We’d like to thank Kayla Kamp, owner of Replenishing Farms, for writing this month’s blog and for also providing these helpful links.