How much do you think about the food on your breakfast table in the morning? What do you know about the chickens that laid your eggs, the grain that was processed to produce your cereal, or the cows that provided your milk? Knowing how and where your food is grown, harvested and processed is important for the health of your body, the natural environment, and the local and global economy.Living in Dane County provides you with numerous opportunities to enjoy affordable, high quality food. The Dane County Farmers’ Market in Madison is back outside now on the Capital Square. It is the largest producers-only farmers’ market in the United States and provides a fantastic opportunity for consumers to get to know the people who grow local food and to taste the freshness of local food. In addition to this downtown farmers’ market, there are fifteen other markets held around the city over the growing season. Beyond the markets, here are some other tips from the EnAct Participant Guide for eating local, sustainable foods.
- Eat seasonally. Learn what fruits and vegetables are in season and available locally at different times of the year. Enjoy those foods at their peak, rather than choosing produce that is grown and shipped long distances. You can enjoy fresh, local food almost all year round, support local farmers, and save money.
- Subscribe to a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and receive a box of seasonal fresh vegetables throughout the growing season. Contact Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture Coalition for more information (608) 226-0300 or www.macsac.org). If a whole box is too much for your household, you can share a membership with a neighbor or two!
- Encourage and help others to buy local. Ask your favorite restaurant where they buy their produce. If they are not buying locally, ask them if they would consider buying a couple of items from local farms. Ask your grocery store to label the origin of produce. That way, you and others can choose to buy locally.
For more information and ideas on how to eat sustainably, visit www.enactwi.org. Check back here weekly for new tips from EnAct to help you have a better impact on the environment. EnAct, a program of Madison Environmental Group, Inc., encourages sustainable living and strengthens communities by creating Environmental Action Teams in neighborhoods, community organizations and workplaces. If you are interested in starting your own EnAct team, please contact us at enact@madisonenvironmental.com or (608) 204-2888.