Guides
312 guides
Practical answers for buying local food, using what is in season, and making more of what comes home from the market.
How to build a spring meal plan around local produce
Spring produce arrives fast and changes week to week. A flexible meal plan built around what is actually available makes cooking easier and reduces waste.
How to cook with squash, apples, sweet potatoes, and greens
Squash, apples, sweet potatoes, and fall greens are the backbone of autumn cooking — but knowing how to handle each one makes the difference between a good meal and a forgettable one.
How to create a local food gift basket
A gift basket built from local farm products is more personal, more interesting, and more meaningful than anything assembled from a retail store. Here is how to put one together well.
How to eat seasonally in early spring
Early spring is a transition season — not winter anymore, but not yet peak growing season either. Here is how to eat well with what is actually available right now.
How to keep supporting local producers year-round
Many buyers are active in summer and fall but drift away in winter. Here is how to maintain that connection to local farms through every season, not just the abundant ones.
How to make the most of tomato season
Tomato season is short and spectacular. This guide covers how to buy, store, cook, and preserve local tomatoes so you get the most out of every week of peak season.
How to shop local even when it is cold outside
Winter doesn't have to mean the end of local food buying. With a few simple adjustments, you can keep supporting small farms and eating well from local sources all through the cold months.
How to shop local through harvest season
Harvest season is one of the richest times to buy from local farms, but the crops and rhythms are different from summer. Here is how to shop it well.
How to shop small for holiday meals
Shopping from local farms and small producers for holiday meals takes a little more planning but results in food that is more meaningful, more flavorful, and more connected to your community.
Local foods that shine in cooler weather
Some of the best local food is not summer produce — it is the crops that come into their own when temperatures drop. Here is what actually gets better in the cold.
Mother's Day, Father's Day, and host gifts from local producers
For Mother's Day, Father's Day, and occasions when you need a meaningful host gift, locally sourced food from small producers offers something more personal and more memorable than a typical store-bought option.
Root vegetables, storage crops, and winter farm shopping
Root vegetables and storage crops are what make winter local farm shopping possible. This guide explains what to look for, how to store it, and why local versions are worth seeking out.