Eating Local: What Does It Mean and Why Does It Matter? Part I

When you hear the phrase, “eating local,” what does it mean to you? In Frito-Lay’s new ad campaign, the company suggests its potato chips are wholesome because a "local" farmer in Texas or Michigan, for instance, grew the potatoes. Recent Wal-Mart ads tout its “local” produce--like Georgia peaches in Georgia stores--although most of its food is shipped from far and wide.

In these tough economic times, in particular, more Americans are choosing to spend their dollars at local businesses. According to Packaged Facts, a market research firm, local food sales will increase from $4 billion in 2002 to $7 billion in 2011.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, it’s not all bad news that big business wants in on the “local” action. This marketing trend proves that consumers do have an impact on corporate decisions, and that American companies have noticed consumers’ increased local spending.

Local Benefits
At the Western Wake Farmers’ Market, when we say “local”, we mean that all the foods are grown, harvested, caught or crafted within 125 miles of the marketplace at Carpenter Village. (In fact, most vendors are within 80 miles; we went out 125 miles to get the local seafood!) Local matters for a variety of reasons: health and taste, environment, animal welfare, economy and land preservation.

Stay tuned for Part II with more information on why eating local matters.

It’s in the Bag

Some are fun, some are pretty, some are even elegant. Some are just plain functional, and they sure come in all shapes and sizes. One thing they have in common, though, is that they are all Earth-friendly!

Take a look at some of the reusable bags and baskets our shoppers are carrying to bring home all those great market products each Saturday. More cities (and even some states) are banning plastic bags. Some opponents argue that paper bags aren’t much better than plastic in terms of environmental impact. Nonetheless, it’s seems safe to say that reusing bags as much as possible is a pretty green way to shop our market. You’ll notice our vendors offering bags for produce just in case you’ve forgotten one, but you can always decline and save a bag by using your own market shopping bag.

Soon the Western Wake Farmers' Market will offer insulated cooler bags for sale to keep your purchases cold while you shop. You'll be keeping your goods cool and supporting the market! More to come...

Market Foods: They're Good for Your Health!

Marda Heuman, RD, LDN, of Heuman Nutrition, has visited the market several times to educate shoppers about about how foods available at the market are better for you than what you can buy at the grocery store. Marda has lots of great information on the health benefits of eating food from grass-fed animals, plus all about the nutrients in the seasonal produce at market right now. Marda is in private practice in the Cary/Apex area. For more information, contact her at Heuman Nutrition, (919) 271-5893, heumannnutrition@nc.rr.com.

La Farm and Great Harvest Named Top Bakers in Cary

Congratulations to market vendors La Farm Bakery and Great Harvest Bread Co. for winning first and third place, respectively, in the "Best of Cary" feature in the Cary Today supplement published by The Cary News this week!

Farm to Plate: Cooking with Seasonal Produce

Wondering what to do with all that wonderful seasonal produce from the market or even your own garden? Here are a few links for recipes you may want to try.

Farm to Table @ Epicurious.com
Explore this entire series for recipes, tips, gardening, local restaurants and farmers, plus an NC ingredient map. Healthy recipes too.

Crazy for Tomatoes?
Here are 25 different things you can do with farm-fresh tomatoes. Plus light tomato recipes.
A visual guide to 12 heirloom tomato varieties.

Peachy Keen Flavors
Click on June 2009, choose Desserts. Plus lighter peach recipes.

Peel Back the Flavor: Corn
Sandwich
Salad

Organic Recipes from bloggers who love organic

Herbs: Visual Guide and Recipe Ideas for 13 Herbs

Cooking with Fresh Figs

Nutrition Tours at Market July 25

Marda Heuman, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian/nutritionist, will give tours of the farmers’ market this Saturday at 9:00 and 10:00 am for shoppers who would like to know more about sustainable farms and the health benefits of eating foods that are locally grown and sold.

For instance, did you know that pasture raised animals are naturally leaner than conventionally raised animals and contain a higher percentage of the “good” vs. “bad” fat? Or that local produce is more nutritious because it is picked at peak nutrient value, rather than produce picked before ripening to allow shipping time?

These issues and more will be raised during the tour. Marda has interviewed our food vendors and knows their products and practices. With 15 years experience working with folks wishing to improve their health through the foods they eat, Marda is in private practice in the Cary/Apex area . For more info: Heuman Nutrition, 919-271-5893, heumannnutrition@nc.rr.com.

Western Wake Eats e-newsletter recipients can reply to Thursday's newsletter to sign up for the tours. If you do not receive the newsletter yet, sign up here.

Vendor Profile: The Farm Fairy

Once upon a time, a family wished for a farm, one like Old MacDonald had with plenty of animals. Like a tooth fairy that brings money for a treasured tooth, a farm fairy would come and bring them a farm. For Sandra Sarlinga and her husband Fabian Lujan, their wish came true. Today they are living on a peaceful farm in Elon, N.C., and growing their business, The Farm Fairy.

Plenty of animals…maybe not, but there are some valuable bees and chickens roaming about, which contribute greatly to their offerings at the Western Wake Farmers’ Market. These include honey, eggs from free-range chickens, tasty foccacias and paninos featuring veggies from their garden, along with seasonal jams and jellies, and more.

“We enjoy being at the market and getting to know the people who come back each week. They appreciate what we do, and we do the best that we can for them,” Sandra said. The couple moved here from Argentina nine years ago with their daughter Fiamma and son Fermin. Since then, they have built their business based on a simple way of eating and living.

Busy Bees
Sandra and Fabian keep 10 beehives where the bees “dine” on the nectar of wildflowers and blackberry plants. Beekeeping is a year-round venture, said Sandra, but it is seasonal with the busy honey harvesting time now to early August.

A few years ago, the collapse of bee colonies was big news. Without bees, fruits and vegetables simply cannot grow. Fortunately, The Farm Fairy hasn’t experienced this problem. Sandra said scientists studied the problem and learned that huge commercial farming operations were most affected by Colony Collapse Disorder. A virus, plus their practice of trucking bees to a new field after another crop is harvested, put undue stress on the bees and and didn't provide them with the variety of nutrients they need. At The Farm Fairy, bees are free to feast on a variety of flowering plants and do the pollinating work they are meant to do.

Visit the Education Tent on August 1 when The Farm Fairy will discuss beekeeping .

Gardening Made Easy
In a pretty savvy business move last year, Sandra and Fabian launched The Farm Fairy @ Your Backyard, a service where they install raised garden beds using the square-foot gardening method. The Farm Fairy installs the beds (maximizing soil composition and minimizing weeds) and irrigation, and then plants the seeds or vegetable plants. They follow up with visits once a month. “The time-consuming projects are taken care of,” Sandra said, “so you can enjoy your garden.”

Learn more about The Farm Fairy at their web site and by chatting with them at market each week!

Copyright 2009 Western Wake Farmers' Market. All rights reserved.