Beginner’s Guide to Finding Local Food

Food is central to our world. We all eat it, we all need it, we all get grumpy without it.

It’s central to our work at FoxRAP, too – it’s often what brings our growers and our community members together.

So as we dig into summer and the abundant fresh food season here in Wisconsin, here’s the first in a series of articles to celebrate the Upper Fox Food and Farm Network.

To start, let’s talk basics.

Why eat local?

There are so many reasons. Where do we even start?! Let’s break it down:

For you – Local food is grown closer to home and doesn’t have to travel as far to get to you. This means it’s fresher. You also know where and how the food is grown. You can meet the farmer whose hands harvested those carrots or who raised that pork chop on your grill. You have more peace of mind knowing the source of your food. It’s not distant or anonymous, it’s local and personal.

For the farmers – When you purchase local food, you are directly helping the farmers in our area. Your support means they are able to continue stewarding their land and producing for our community. Small farmers are up against developers and large corporations who want the land they farm. Every dollar spent on local food helps to keep these family farms alive.

For our community – Money spent on local food stays within our local community. For every $100 spent at local businesses, about $68 stays in the local economy (source: American Independent Business Alliance). Local food supports your neighbors – they have kids in the same schools as your kids, they attend the same city council meetings as you, they want clean lakes and swimming spots like you – their roots are here with us. Every food purchase casts a vote for the food system you want to see.

Creating a thriving local farm community is what we are all about at FoxRAP. Our goal is to help you find and enjoy our area’s abundance of food and farm products.

What type of food do I want?

Our local farmers grow a wide variety of food and products for us: vegetables, herbs, fruits, mushrooms, microgreens, beef, pork, lamb, chicken, duck, turkey, bison, eggs, flowers, honey, maple syrup, dairy products, tea, baked goods, canned goods, jams and jellies, and more.

Not only can you find the things you enjoy on a daily basis, you can also discover new foods.

Local farmers also grow unique edible plants. Ever heard of celeriac? Lovage? Kohlrabi? Currants? Give them a try!

You can also find new varieties of fruits and vegetables that you enjoy. For example, despite growing over 2,500 varieties of apples in the US, we only have a few available on grocery store shelves. Redmond’s Apple Basket Orchard in Ripon, however, has some unique varieties, like Zestar and Wolf River.

Our local farms also offer unique cuts of meat that you won’t find elsewhere. Maybe a Denver Steak or Teres Major will become your new go-to steak. If you haven’t had a bison steak, meet up with Lennie at Polish Ponderosa Farm to give one a try.

There’s a lot to discover. You may even find your new favorite food.

How can I get local food?

Farmers Markets

Farmers markets are the perfect way to find lots of different farmers in one place. You can shop for vegetables, fruits, meats, flowers, baked goods, and artisan items in one location. There are a variety of farmers markets in our area on Saturday mornings, but you can also find some on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

Find the full list of local farmers markets in the Upper Fox Local Food and Farm Guide.

Farm Stores

Many farms have on-farm stores or stands, usually working as a self-serve system. Some also carry products from other farms and businesses.

At the end of each farm’s bio in the Upper Fox Local Food and Farm Guide, you will see if they have a farm store. Be sure to check when they are open before stopping by.

CSA

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are a way to “subscribe” to a farm. You generally make one upfront purchase in exchange for a season’s worth of farm bounty. There are CSA programs for produce, meat, and even flowers.

With a CSA, you receive your share of local items each week or month at convenient pick up locations or possibly home delivery.

By subscribing ahead of time, you are also helping the farmer plan their production, meet demand, and reduce food waste by avoiding overharvest.

Online & Phone Orders

Many farmers have online ordering systems or accept orders via phone. At the end of each farm bio listed in the Upper Fox Local Food and Farm Guide, you’ll find the various ways you can purchase their products.

If you’d like to purchase meat in bulk, several farms offer whole and half beef and pork shares. This allows you to enjoy a full freezer with a variety of cuts at a cheaper price per pound.

Local Grocers

We have great markets in this area, like Crossroads Market in Green Lake, Oshkosh Food Co-op, and Village Market Specialty Foods in Fond du Lac, that carry local products.

If you want to purchase local food but also like the convenience of a full store with regular hours, this is a great option. Shopping at these locations still supports the farmers, plus these hometown businesses which provide jobs and often support local causes and organizations.

Mix & Match

You don’t have to pick just one of these methods. Mix and match to fit your unique needs and schedule.

For example, subscribe to a weekly veggie CSA, stop at a farm store once a month to stock your freezer with meats, and go to a local grocer for pantry items and snacks.

Or you could purchase a half cow share to stock up on beef for the year and spend Saturday mornings at the farmers market shopping for everything else you need for the week.

You can also choose to dine at restaurants that source some of their ingredients locally.

There are lots of great options to enjoy delicious, local foods and support our farmers and small business owners.

How do I get started?

Start with the Upper Fox Local Food & Farm Guide. Packed full of information, you will find our area’s local farms, farmers markets, grocers and restaurants. For each farm, you’ll find what they grow, raise, or make, the sustainable practices they use, the payment types they accept, and where you can find their products.

For those nights you don’t want to cook, you can still support local by dining at restaurants listed in the guide that use locally-sourced ingredients. Find and give local food recommendations in the Facebook group Upper Fox Valley WI Food and Farms.

We’re always happy to help you find the local food you are looking for. Please don’t hesitate to contact us here at FoxRAP with any questions.

Happy eating!