As you plan a cozy meal or two for the festive season, don’t forget about all the small local stores and makers who can fill your tables with delicious treats. Consider buying meat and dairy directly from producers near you, stopping into a farmers’ market or food co-op for fruit and veggies, and sourcing rolls and pies from a beloved bakery. With a little extra planning, your dollars can go a long way toward supporting local food systems.
Menu planning
Local food tends to be seasonal - either items that can be grown in the climate where you are, foods that can be grown in greenhouses, or those that can be stored over the winter (like root veg or frozen foods). Many holiday foods ARE seasonal in most of the U.S. — cranberries, dried herbs, and root vegetables are all great options, even in cold northern climates. When you go shopping you’ll need to be a little flexible, as you rely on what is available. This gives you the opportunity to be creative!
Make buying from local shops part of your holiday tradition
If you have a local food co-op or a winter farmer’s market, those are both great ways to support grassroots food production. Local health food stores or specialty butchers can be another good option. Supporting local stores helps support different parts of the food system - even if the actual item you buy isn’t local. Local stores are more likely to source from local bakeries, processors, and farmers, and may also use local shipping companies!
Sadly, these days not every town has local food shops. If it’s a bit of a drive for you to the nearest spot, turn it into a fun family tradition, like sourcing a Christmas tree. Go pick out the meal for the year together, and maybe grab a special treat or eat at a local cafe or restaurant along the way.
Go straight to the source
Get your dairy and meat directly from the source by researching farms in your area. If you’re looking for a turkey, chicken, duck, or even a goose to serve for your holiday meal, local farms are a great way to find ethically and humanely produced meat. Too costly or too much advanced planning? Eggs and milk for baking can be more accessible.
Buy from a bakery
Local bakeries are still commonplace, often attached to a cafe. See if your favorite spot is taking holiday orders. Alternatively, many people bake and sell pies from home for the holidays (this is covered under cottage food laws in many states). A simple google search of “home bakers” will turn up plenty of options.
Let your guests know where you got your food from
A locally-sourced meal is a great opportunity to raise awareness about producers and retailers in your area. You can make decorative notecards detailing where the food was sourced, or simply bring it up during the meal. Once the conversation gets going, you may learn about even more wonderful local businesses to support.
Thinking big or starting small
Everyone has different budgets, time, and experience with local buying to work with. If you’re an experienced local food connoisseur you can challenge yourself to make the entire meal local - even down to the decor on your table. But if that feels daunting, never fear. Simply sourcing one or two ingredients locally, like eggs or cranberries, will be doing plenty to support the local farmers and makers that keep us fed all year long.
