6 Ways to Support Local Farmers Even if You Don’t Cook

When people think about supporting local farmers, they often picture cooking elaborate meals from fresh produce and unique cuts of meat.

If you’re not a cook and rather reach for heat-and-eat options, can you still support local farmers?

Sure can!

From fresh fruit and ready-to-eat snacks, to baked goods, cheese, and flowers, farms provide more than just ingredients. You can still support our local farmers, and in turn, build community and responsible land stewardship.

Here are 6 ways to support local farmers even if you don’t cook.

Buy Grab-and-Go Produce

Even if you don’t cook full meals, try purchasing no-prep-needed fruits and vegetables to enjoy.

Apples, strawberries, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, radishes, etc. just need a quick wash to be a great snack. A few slices of cucumbers, bell peppers, and carrots accompanied by hummus make a most refreshing lunch.

Farmers markets offer a wide variety of seasonal produce in one central spot. You can also swing by farm stands or on-farm stores. Use our interactive local food and farm map to find options near you.

Purchase Premade Foods

Many farmers spin their products into ready-to-eat foods, like bread, salsa, jam, cheese, and pickles.

Use their bread and cheese to make a grilled cheese sammy and tomato soup. If you’re heading to a party, take a charcuterie board with local jam, cheese, salami, honey, pickles and a variety of crackers.

Flyte Farms Market has fresh produce, plus baked goods, jams, and jellies. Olive Juice Farms crafts a wide variety of sourdough, baked treats, salsa, and canned vegetables. Olden Organics Farm makes a selection of minimally processed fruits and vegetables, guacamole, Pico de Gallo, and more. Woolly Thyme Farm also sells jams, jellies, and their famous Grandma’s Pickles.

From meat producers, look for beef sticks, jerky, or summer sausage. You can also find brats and hamburger patties that make an easy, delicious meal.

Stores like Crossroads Market, Oshkosh Food Co-op, and Village Market Specialty Foods have prepared foods that make life easier. Some of their ingredients are sourced from local farmers, so ask for those products to support local farms.

You can always stock the freezer at Poco Pizza, who source toppings from local farms.

Eat at Restaurants that Source Local Foods

Here in the Upper Fox River watershed, we have a great variety of restaurants that source ingredients locally. By eating at these businesses, and sharing your support of their efforts to buy local, you help create markets for our farmers to sell their products.

Fox and Crow Bistro offers fine dining with a changing seasonal menu. If you’re craving a sandwich at lunch, Horseradish Kitchen and Market is a great spot on the Fox River. J’s BBQ is “your ultimate destination for Texas-Inspired, Wisconsin-Spirited BBQ”. Table 15 is a farm-to-table restaurant where every dish is fresh and made to order.

We even have local beer and wine! Knuth Brewing Company and Vines & Rushes Winery in Ripon, and Rushford Meadery & Winery in Omro are three spots to quench your thirst

Shop for Non-Food Items

Farms grow more than just food, too.

The Dandelion Farm in Berlin uses the milk from their goat herd to craft a variety of nourishing products, like lotions, soaps, and body wash.

Woolly Thyme Farm sells wool products from their flock of sheep.

We also have several local flower farms that are growing beautiful blooms, including North Road Flower Farm and Shady Lady Acres, to brighten up your space or someone else’s day.

Shop Local for gifts

Next time you need a gift, look for something local! For birthdays or holidays, you can find unique, high-quality gifts made by farmers in our area.

The Dandelion Farm is a great shop to explore when looking for gifts for friends, family, coworkers, and teachers. Redmond’s Apple Basket Orchard has a variety of seasonal gifts at their on-farm store.

Some farms also offer gift certificates. These support farms financially, and by gifting them, you may introduce new customers to the farm’s delightful products.

Attend Farm Events

Show your support for farms by showing up to on-farm events!

U-pick days are a fun way to spend time outdoors with friends and family, and you go home with fresh produce. Flyte Farms offers both strawberry and blueberry picking.

Kelley’s Farmstead has a Baby Farm Animal Barn during spring, plus many autumn activities.

Some farms have pasture walks, tours, music nights, and more. Keep an eye on their social media and local papers that list events.

If you need a space to host an event, Good Trouble Grove in Green Lake rents their century-old barn as a community space.

Bottom line

Supporting local farmers doesn’t mean cooking every meal from scratch.

You can still show farm love by buying simple fruit and veggie snacks or premade items for a quick, easy meal. Choosing restaurants and stores that buy from farms encourages these businesses to continue stocking local goods.

Aside from food, you can find flowers, other non-food items, and gifts created by farms or attend on-farm events and activities.

Remember: your dollar is powerful, and you can still support local agriculture that benefits our community and ecosystem, even if you don’t cook.