Hey, Big Spender.... Where Are YOU??

Last week, I received this letter from the the grocery store that I used to frequent at least two times a week... 

Ok... so I know the people who work in the produce department have commented on how they haven't seen me much... BUT... I didn't realize I had cut back on my shopping that much!!!! YAY!!

Of course, I filled out the survey (in detail) and called the 800 number.  Here are some of the things I discussed:

Local foods (produce, dairy, seafood), bulk foods, more organics AND how a year or so ago they used our coastal area as a test market for ONLY plastic grocery bags (seriously)... and let them know that the store I do shop at now has a plastic bag ban. ;)

I am just so pumped that I used to be a big spender at Harris Teeter... and now... they've taken notice that I'm spending my money elsewhere....

SO....I would like to thank my Farmers' Markets, my CSA (Cottle Farm Organics), my garden (even though it didn't perform to my expectations), Tidal Creek Cooperative Market, Edens Produce (a roadside farm stand) and the lady that sells local shrimp on the side of the road for helping make this happen!!!

VOTE with YOUR $$

The Better Market

When we first moved in our house... three and a half years ago... one thing that I was super excited about was the "new" Farmers' Market just a short bike ride from our home.  Of course, when we first moved to our home... I didn't have a bike and I had a 6 month old baby, a 2 year old and a 4 year old... so we most often traveled by Sequoia.  

A lot has changed in the past 3 years.  The Farmers' Market has grown and so has my appreciation for local food.  When I first started going to the Farmers' Market... it was more for leisure.  Pick up a few things here... add them to what I had already purchased from the store.  My trips to the Market always revolved around my trips to the grocery store.  Today, I'm a different kind of shopper.  I realized this about three months ago when I went into my big chain grocery store and the produce people said to me,

"Hey!  Where have you been!  We thought you moved."  

You see, I used to go to the grocery store a couple of times a week.  It always felt like an episode of "Cheers" when I would go there... true they didn't know my "name"... but they did know all of my preferences and my kids (they'd always tell me how much my kids have grown... they remember when my 4 year old was a baby and they'd always be quick to ask where my kids were when I was traveling solo ;)).  True, I really enjoy the people that work at Harris Teeter.

BUT... sorry, Harris Teeter....I like LOCAL food better. 

So now, I plan for Wednesdays (and sometimes Saturdays).  The grocery store is last resort because I like knowing that the food I'm buying is supporting my community.  I like knowing the farmer.  I like knowing that my food didn't travel thousands of miles.  And...I LOVE getting the freshest foods possible.  True, I'm becoming somewhat of a Locavore.  When we were on vacation in California we even hit up a Farmers' Market.

 While my local Market doesn't really compare to the variety in California, I'm still able to eat a primarily locavore diet for most of the year.   In fact, our dinner tonight was comprised 100% of foods that I purchased at the Farmers' Market.  What was for dinner?  Crab Cakes, Green Beans, and Roasted Potatoes with some blueberries, and some of Angela's Pickles on the side.

But my Farmers' Market isn't just about food.  Nope, sure isn't.  For as long as I've been going to the Farmers' Markets, I've supplemented my homemade Christmas gifts with goods from the Market.  Lotions, soaps, handmade glass jewelry, candles... and non-perishables such as honey, jams, teas, and pickled peppers... they've all found their way to family, teachers, and friends.   Last winter, I passed on buying a scarf at J. Crew and instead bought one at the Farmers' Market that was handmade locally (no tag because it's not "Made in China").  It feels good supporting the local economy and keeping my $$ in my community.

SO... what else do I dig about Farmers' Markets?  The experience that my kids have every time we go.  My kids get to be actively involved in the shopping.  I can easily send my kids to pick out and purchase food without me being right on top of them.  The farmers/vendors are always happy to help them :)  They also get to take in the sights and smells of the market.  No processed foods.  Sure there are people selling cookies and other baked confections that kids go crazy for, but they don't win over the color and smell of in-season fruits and veggies.

Seriously LOVE everything about Farmers' Markets.

SO... do you LOVE your Farmers' Market??  Last night, I voted for my Farmers' Markets  in the American Farmland Trust's Favorite Farmers Market Contest.  So vote for yours... :)

Where's My Milk Come From??

I've been buying organic milk for a LONG time.  Years ago, my father-in-law sent me a report about the integrity of organic milk.

"The Cornucopia Institute's national survey of organic products in the dairy case showcases ethical family farm producers and exposes factory farm producers and brands that threaten to take over organic dairying. With this Web-based rating tool, you can see which brands and dairy products found in your region are produced using the best organic farming practices and ethics. Based on a years research into the organic dairy business, the scorecard rates 68 different organic dairy brands and private-label products."


From that scorecard, I learned which organic dairy products I would buy... and what companies that I wouldn't support.  And while I knew what type of farmers I would support... I never really thought about "where" the farmers lived that I chose to support.  Since January, I've been trying my best to buy local milk from my co-operative food market (Tidal Creek).  Sometimes I would remember to pick up milk when I was there... other times I would forget and purchase Organic Valley at the grocery store.

Then I came across this website: Where Is My Milk From?.   As soon as I saw the website... I grabbed every bit of dairy in my fridge... Milk, Chocolate Milk, 1/2 and 1/2 (all Organic Valley).  I knew that Organic Valley has farmers in the Southeast... so naturally, I assumed (yes, I am aware of the saying ;) ) that all the dairy products I had purchased came from the Southeast.  WRONG!!  I could hardly believe it when Minnesota, New York and Ohio popped up for the codes that I entered.

SO... for the past month I have only been purchasing local... North Carolina... milk.  Sure, it takes a little more planning on my part since Tidal Creek isn't as convenient as the grocery store a few miles from my home.  BUT I'm feeling great about my decision because:

I'm supporting North Carolina farmers!!
The distance from farm to table is SO much shorter :)
Reusable glass bottles... I pay a $2 deposit that I get back when I RETURN the bottle.
I'm REUSING, which means that I have less in my recycle bin.


On a side note, I should say that we don't really use that much milk.  Partly, because I have my "issues" with the dairy industry.  Over the past several months, I've been using a lot of dairy alternatives that I will share shortly :)