Eat Local. Join a CSA.
The first, tried and true, way to eat local is by going to your neighborhood farmers market. This can become a fun, weekly activity for you where you can get out, get some vitamin D and meet your local farmers. Stock up on your necessities, and eat seasonally.
CSAs have been gaining popularity recently, but have been around for over 25 years. This is a really great, easy way to buy local, seasonal food and have it delivered directly to your home.
A quick overview of this process:
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA’s)
Farmers will offer a certain number of boxes to the public. Typically these boxes will be vegetables, but can be other products from their farm.
You can get a membership or subscription, and receive a box of seasonal produce every week during the farming season.
By doing this you are not only going to be eating the freshest produce, but you are helping your local farmers.
This is beneficial because you are getting the freshest food that is full of vitamins and flavor. You are also probably going to receive some veggies that are new to you, which is great for supporting the diversity of your gut microbiome.
In Charleston, there is Community Supported Grocery (CSG).
CSG is a local food delivery service that was started in 2018. They have done an incredible job of combining your traditional Farmers Market with an online, subscription-based delivery service.
They sort, curate and deliver weekly batches of local groceries with recipes, producer info and dietary restriction compliance. They also take away the stress of marketing for over 300 local growers and producers!
