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06/23/2016 12:00 PMThe phrase "farm fresh" takes on a whole new meaning the first time locally grown and freshly harvested produce, dairy, meat, and eggs appear on your plate. Flavors seem more vibrant, vegetables have a brighter crunch and snap, and everything simply tastes more delicious.
With local produce being harvested daily, the time is ripe for putting the tastes and flavors of Connecticut on your dinner table. In addition to unparalleled freshness and flavor, your purchase of locally grown produce supports your local farmers.
The push for shopping local is on with the founding of buyCTgrown (buyCTgrown.com), an organization run through the non-profit CitySeed. The program – supported by UConn Extension, CT Farm Bureau, CT NOFA, and the CT Department of Agriculture – asks consumers to pledge to spend 10 percent of their existing food and gardening dollars locally.
Martha Maguire, market manager of the Branford Alps Farmers' Market, says she saw firsthand the immense growth of buying locally during the market's first season.
"Research shows that right now most people only buy about 3 percent locally," says Maguire. "We need to be able to feed ourselves locally. We need to slowly ratchet up the food consumption from Connecticut to give us the food security we don't have."
While many local grocery stores and markets are stocking local produce, there are a number of farmers' markets throughout the region during the harvest season (see sidebar). In addition to offering locally grown and made items, many markets have entertainment like music, children's crafts, and food trucks.
"We have local bands every week," says Dave Sousa, market manager of the Ivoryton Farmers' Market and owner of Essex Garlic. "You can grab some lunch from one of our vendors, have fresh-cooked food, sit around and listen to music, and enjoy the day."
Sarah Borgnis-Tobin, manager of the Clinton Farmers' Market, says the entertainment factor helps draw visitors. She has also seen the importance of supporting local farmers and vendors, noting that farmers face a number of economic challenges.
"Each dollar you spend at the farmers' market is a vote you cast for a healthy community – environmentally, socially, and economically," says Borgnis-Tobin. "Market-goers are often pleasantly shocked to find that prices are not higher than at the supermarket. The market is simultaneously a community hub and a place to cross off everything on your shopping list. Who says this part of your weekly routine can't be fun? So come sample the raspberries, and treat yourself to a bunch of sunflowers."
Many farmers' markets not only feature locally grown produce, but many other household staples, including eggs, baked goods, meats, cheeses and other dairy products, canned goods, plants and herbs, honey, seafood, garlic, mushrooms, and more. In addition to food, some markets also feature local vendors with their handmade candles, soaps, quilts, or other products.
"Everything you get at the market is picked that day or the day before, the baked goods are baked that morning, the seafood is caught that morning, the canned goods are canned that week – it's as fresh as you can get it," says Chris Bassette of the Old Saybrook Farmers' Market. "The whole mindset is shifting to 'Let's go to the market first and then get the rest at the regular grocery store.' People plan their meals around what we have."
Because crops are seasonal, most market managers admit that shopping at a farmers' market can take a little getting used to. But they agree it is worth it because of the superior taste and freshness that comes with buying local.
"You really have to become attuned to what is seasonal, and it's fun to try to eat seasonally," said Maguire. "There is this celebration of food you haven't seen in a while when it comes back around and then you gorge on it for a while then it's gone. You can create balanced meals coming to the market."
Most farmers' markets have everything you need for the makings of a great meal. And, if you don't know what to do with your market finds, the farmer is there selling their crops and they are willing to answer questions, offer recipes, and make suggestions.
"You can have the most fun and the biggest adventure by showing up to a farm stand with an open mind to put together a meal based on what is fresh, available, and recommended," says Greg Nobile, co-owner of The Stand Farm Market and Cantneen in Branford. "I guarantee you will come up with something very exciting you may not have thought of before. Anyone that works at a farm market is passionate about sustainability, food, and eating well. Engage staff about interesting varieties of vegetables that may be for sale, suggestions on how to prepare them, and ideas on new things to try."
There are a number of local restaurants, such as The Stand, that are committed to using locally grown ingredients whenever possible. The Department of Agriculture (ct.gov/doag) is a great resource for finding Connecticut grown products. There are also a number of farms that host dinners, including Barberry Farm in Madison, Starlight Gardens in Durham, and White Gate Farm in East Lyme.
If you want fresh, local goods on your table but don't have time to visit a market every week, there are several local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs that offer "shares" of the farm. Each week, you pick up a basket of what is in season that week. Kate Brunson of Branford has been a member of three different CSA programs over the past five years, noting that each offered its own meal-planning help, from a full cookbook to weekly emails about unique ingredients to a Facebook page where other members shared recipes they use featuring weekly ingredients.
"My favorite part about participating in a CSA is the surprise factor – each week you don't know what will be in your basket," says Brunson. "It forces my family to try new ingredients and allows us to shift from planning meals around meat to focusing on the vegetables."
Brunson says there were multiple reasons her family decided to commit to eating local, including knowing where the food is grown, the farming practices used, the distance the food traveled to reach her family, and making connections in the community. She was soon inspired to start her own business with her mom, Maple and Mum Floral Design, with an emphasis on local.
"We knew we had to build our business with a focus on locally grown products," said Brunson. "By supporting local farms and businesses I can connect with other families that have a story to tell. I want my dollars to support those hardworking folks in my own community."