CALIFORNIA FARM TO TABLE: SHOP LOCALLY

I really took it to heart when learning about the whole "farm to table" philosophy, which promotes buying produce that's been grown within 100 miles of home.  Let me tell you something...it's tough.  But I try. And failing that, I tell myself, "It must at least have been grown in California." When that doesn't work...at the very least, it should be grown in the U.S.  How hard could that be?

Well, sometimes really, really hard. Why? Because labeling is so misleading and even with produce you to read the fine print.  Haas California avocados are a great example. You see them everywhere.  But many times, those buttery fruits are grown in Chile.  When the California avocado crops were damaged by the fires, the Chilean avocados were in the markets for many more months. Much as I love my guacamole and avocado salads, I resisted the urge and did not purchase a single avocado until I was certain it came from California soil.

Similarly, I found a bag of Gilroy garlic at a local store – proudly labeled as California grown. Happy stinking roses! At home, preparing dinner, there in very tiny, tiny print on the bottom of the bag it said, “Product of Argentina.” Those beautiful bulbs went back in the bag and back to the store. As strange as it sounds, now I even ask at the farmers markets, “Was this grown in California?”

Then I took the whole “act locally” to the next level. Our local merchants need us desperately! Yes, I do shop at Costco sometimes. And occasionally succumb to the wilds of Home Depot. However, I am trying (what we must do) to support small, local businesses; especially during these most difficult economic times.

With the rising cost of gas, it really isn’t cheaper to make that drive to the big “Box Store” to save a few bucks. Plus, I am walking more!  That's a bonus!

Residents and visitors to the Golden State,

support California farms...shop

Or 

 Buy   

There are great farm, wine, and harvest trails throughout the state.

Farm Trails

49er Fruit Trails & Christmas Tree Lane

Apple Hill Growers Association

Clarksburg Wine Growers & Vintners

Calaveras Grown

California Ag-Tourism Database

Capay Valley Grown

Central Coast AgriTourism Council

El Dorado County Farm Trails

El Dorado County Christmas Tree Growers

El Dorado Winery Association

Farms of Amador County

Fresno County Fruit Trail

Happy Valley Farm Trail

Harvest Time in Brentwood

Lake County Farm Trails

Lake County Farmers Finest

Lodi Wine Trails

Mendocino Bounty

Napa Yolano Harvest Trails

Oak Glen Farm Trails

Pick Your Own 

Placer Grown

Sierra Oro Farm Trail

Sonoma County Farm Trails

Silverado Trail Wineries Association

Suisun Valley

Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association

Tuolumne County Tree Farms

Ventura County Wine Trail

 

I really took it to heart when learning about the whole "farm to table" philosophy, which promotes buying produce that's been grown within 100 miles of home.  Let me tell you something...it's tough.  But I try. And failing that, I tell myself, "It must at least have been grown in California." When that doesn't work...at the very least, it should be grown in the U.S.  How hard could that be?

Well, sometimes really, really hard. Why? Because labeling is so misleading and even with produce you to read the fine print.  Haas California avocados are a great example. You see them everywhere.  But many times, those buttery fruits are grown in Chile.  When the California avocado crops were damaged by the fires, the Chilean avocados were in the markets for many more months. Much as I love my guacamole and avocado salads, I resisted the urge and did not purchase a single avocado until I was certain it came from California soil.

Similarly, I found a bag of Gilroy garlic at a local store – proudly labeled as California grown. Happy stinking roses! At home, preparing dinner, there in very tiny, tiny print on the bottom of the bag it said, “Product of Argentina.” Those beautiful bulbs went back in the bag and back to the store. As strange as it sounds, now I even ask at the farmers markets, “Was this grown in California?”

Then I took the whole “act locally” to the next level. Our local merchants need us desperately! Yes, I do shop at Costco sometimes. And occasionally succumb to the wilds of Home Depot. However, I am trying (what we must do) to support small, local businesses; especially during these most difficult economic times.

With the rising cost of gas, it really isn’t cheaper to make that drive to the big “Box Store” to save a few bucks. Plus, I am walking more!  That's a bonus!

Residents and visitors to the Golden State,

support California farms...shop

Or 

 Buy   

There are great farm, wine, and harvest trails throughout the state.

Farm Trails

49er Fruit Trails & Christmas Tree Lane

Apple Hill Growers Association

Clarksburg Wine Growers & Vintners

Calaveras Grown

California Ag-Tourism Database

Capay Valley Grown

Central Coast AgriTourism Council

El Dorado County Farm Trails

El Dorado County Christmas Tree Growers

El Dorado Winery Association

Farms of Amador County

Fresno County Fruit Trail

Happy Valley Farm Trail

Harvest Time in Brentwood

Lake County Farm Trails

Lake County Farmers Finest

Lodi Wine Trails

Mendocino Bounty

Napa Yolano Harvest Trails

Oak Glen Farm Trails

Pick Your Own 

Placer Grown

Sierra Oro Farm Trail

Sonoma County Farm Trails

Silverado Trail Wineries Association

Suisun Valley

Suisun Valley Grape Growers Association

Tuolumne County Tree Farms

Ventura County Wine Trail

 

Comments

[Suisun Valley Harvest Trails]

How can we add to the list? I represent Suisun Valley Harvest Trails Assoc. Tracy Ellison

707-580-4263

[Carolyn Allen]

Barbara, thanks for that great list of Farm Trails. I'm spent many happy hours sniffing my way through farm stands of local produce! I've added a note about your list of Farm Trails to my blog...and hope you'll find my website: CaliforniaGreenSolutions.com helpful in identifying green and sustainable agriculture and business resources. http://www.solutionsfororganics.com/2008/05/locally-grown-organic-food.html