Running from July 18th to 26th is Maryland Buy Local Week! Local farmers and food producers need all the support they can get, especially in the face of a global pandemic. A great way to provide support is by taking the Buy Local Challenge, which encourages Marylanders to buy locally-grown food every day for a week!
This challenge helps motivate eaters to support farmers by doing things like shopping at open-air farmers’ markets, joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and ordering from farm-to-table restaurants. Buying local food helps to support hard-working farmers in your community, and enables you to build lasting, meaningful relationships with these farmers. Through these relationships, you can ask questions about growing practices that you value and learn more about how your food is produced.
Small, local farmers have been able to grow and change to keep us fed during this COVID-19 pandemic. They’ve adapted to sudden changes and kept the local food supply chain in motion. It’s important that we continue to support and value Maryland’s independent farming community by encouraging others to shop local and support farmers when they need it most. Join the Fair Farms Campaign in buying local this week, and whenever possible! Take the Buy Local pledge today!
There are many other ways that you can support local farmers while at home. Follow the Fair Farms Campaign on social media for up-to-date news, stories and profiles about local, sustainable farms in Maryland. You can also take the Fair Farms Pledge to commit to supporting the farming community year-round.