Eat with the Seasons:

AUTUMN

The farm-to-table movement is here to stay. Our taste buds are in luck. Smaller local farmers make the flavor a priority when deciding which vegetables and fruits to grow. The shorter distance to market also means more flavor. If you've eaten a store-bought tomato in January and a sun-ripened one in August, you've tasted the difference.

Eating local and seasonal can also be more affordable than relying solely on the grocer. Purchasing the most delicious, fresh, and nutrient-dense food available is often inexpensive at farm stands and farmers' markets.

Farmers' markets and CSAs were once held as being pricey and elitist. However, studies in four different regions show the produce at farmers' markets is the same price or less expensive than grocery stores.

A 2010 Vermont study compared the pricing of a selection of produce at 10 farmers' markets with the same choice in ten grocers’ markets. Organic produce at the farmers' markets was 40 percent less expensive than the comparable organic produce at the grocery store.

Finally, when you buy local food, more of your dollars stay in your community. According to the Farmers' Market Coalition, for every $100 you spend at a farmers' market, $62 remains in your local economy, and $99 stays in your state. That's a fact worth celebrating!

This fall, celebrate what’s in season in your local community. Many local farms offer fun picking events, tours, tastings and more. Get out to your local farms, sign up for a CSA, and meet the farmer!