Feeling Overwhelmed by Food Recalls? Try Shopping Local.
Well, it sure seems like our food supply has been giving us plenty to talk about lately. In fact, one of the funniest things I heard recently was: “I’ve been pressured more in mid-life to eat protein than I was pressured to try drugs in my teens.”
And honestly… I felt that.
Protein this. Protein that. Eat more of this. Avoid that. And then, just when you think you’ve figured out what belongs in your grocery cart, another food recall pops up. It seems like a consistent topic of conversation this summer has been which food items are problematic now and what has been recalled. It can leave you wondering: Is there anything I can actually do about it?
Well, let me ask you a few questions:
Are you a proactive person?
Do you want a practical way to respond to some of these concerns?
Is there something you’d like to do about it?
(Besides voting, obviously.)
Well then, I have GREAT NEWS!
drumroll please…
A FARMERS MARKET!
And not just any farmers market. Look for a local, long-standing, farmer-led, community-supported market where you can actually get to know the people growing your food.
One of the biggest benefits is simple: you can ask questions. Where was this grown? Who grew it? What’s in season? How was it produced? You can build relationships with the people who are putting food on your table instead of simply picking up another anonymous package from a shelf.
And when a commercially distributed produce item is recalled, your local farmers market may offer a wonderfully simple alternative. If the lettuce, peppers, tomatoes or other produce you normally buy is suddenly on the recall list, you can check with your local growers and see what fresh alternatives are available. Shopping locally gives you another option—and sometimes that option is as simple as knowing your farmer and knowing where your food came from.
And here's another bonus, your farmers market probably has a lot more than produce.
Depending on your local market, you might find soaps, teas, candles, flowers, baked goods, prepared foods, books, art, crafts and all sorts of other wonderful locally made products.
So instead of feeling like there’s nothing you can do when the next recall hits, try doing something positive and practical:
Go meet your farmers.
Buy something local.
Support your neighbors.
Bring home something fresh.
And maybe discover that your local farmers market becomes one of your favorite stops of the week. Sometimes the best response to a complicated food system is to simply get a little closer to where your food comes from. As I often say… SUPPORT AND SHOP LOCAL!
Please stop by and say hi to me while I post-up at the Sellwood-Moreland Farmers Market on Saturday September 5th from 10-2pm. I’ll probably be noshing on some fresh local carrots and would love to chat with you!
* Of course, buying local doesn't make any food automatically risk-free, and it’s still important to follow food-safety guidance and check official recall notices.