TASTEBUDS: Local food is distinctly more fresh, ripe, and flavorful than its well-traveled counterparts.

HEALTH: Studies show that many foods lose nutritional value with storage and transport. Fresh, whole foods are an answer to many modern health crises, including the obesity epidemic.

POCKETBOOKS: Dollars spent on local food circulate in our local economy, strengthening the community for all of us. Eating local can be even more affordable than long-distance diets.

NEIGHBORS: Whatcom folks care about our community, including the farmers, farm workers, chefs, cooks, bakers, and all the hardworking people who keep us fed.

THE VIEW: The beauty of Whatcom’s farmlands, flanked by mountains & waters, is why many of us live here. Buying local food helps preserve it all.

THE FUTURE: Peak oil, climate change, and other evidence of an unsustainable culture are making us look for durable solutions. Local food is a three-times-a-day step in the right direction.

There are many ways to Buy FRESH & local:

Visit a Farm!
Farm Stands can range from a self-serve refrigerator on the back porch to a full-service store.  U-Pick is a great way to spend some time in the country and participate in the harvest. Bring containers, leave pets at home, and wear “grubby” clothes.

Invest in a Farm!
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a convenient and fun way to invest in local agriculture. Typically, a flat fee for membership is paid to the farmer before the season begins, providing spring capital. Members then receive a weekly “subscription” of the freshest items the farm has to offer. CSA programs vary widely in cost, size, and content—check the listings in this guide and call around to find one that fits your needs!

Call Ahead!
Some farms need you to call ahead with your order so that they can let you know what’s available and prepare it for you.

Go to the Market!
Farmers Markets are a great way to support local farmers and are listed in this guide. Grocery Stores and other specialty retailers often carry local products—look and ask for the “Buy FRESH” label.

Eat Out!
Many local restaurants are working hard to source from local farms. Use the Farm Map’s companion Guide to Eating Local to find the freshest local dining, and remember to ask your server what’s local today.

Read Labels!
Make a habit of finding out where the things you buy come from. Look for the Buy FRESH label for the finest, freshest, local products.

Click here to read Chris Wolf's blog about her month of eating local, including yummy all local recipes!