Eat Locally
Eating locally saves energy - lots of it. In the conventional food system, food travels 1,500 or more miles on average from farm to table.
Americans put almost as much fossil fuel into our refrigerators as our cars. We're consuming about 400 gallons of oil a year per citizen - about 17% of our nation's energy use - for agriculture, a close second to our vehicular use. If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce, we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week. Small changes in buying habits can make a big difference. -Barbara Kingsolver, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life.
By shopping from our neighbors, we keep our money in our community. We reduce the travel distance of our food. We get better quality, more nutritious vegetables. There is no packaging, no marketing and no trans fats.
There are many great options. The farmer's markets open soon. The list follows. If you would prefer to shop at a grocery store that sells local produce 7 days a week, you can visit Heritage Prairie Market. Information about their store follows the farmer's market list.
Farmer's Markets ... open most days of the week throughout the Fox Valley
Batavia Farmers’ Market
South Water Street between Wilson St and First Street
just behind the libary
June 28th – October 11th
Saturdays 8 am to noon
www.downtownbatavia.com <http://www.downtownbatavia.com>
Aurora Farmers’ Markets
RT 25 - Aurora Transportation Center
June 21 - September 27
Saturdays 7:00 am to noon
Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, Aurora
Opposite Rush-Copley Heart Institute
July 8-August 26
Tuesdays 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
West Plaza at Galena & Edgelawn, Aurora
July 9 - August 27
Wednesdays 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm
http://www.aurora-il.org/specialevents/events/farmersmarket.php
Geneva Green Market
75 N. River Lane, Geneva
June 26 – October 30
Thursdays, 7:00 am to 1:00 pm
www.genevagreenmarket.org <http://www.genevagreenmarket.org>
St Charles Farmers’ Market
Baker Memorial United Methodist Church
4th avenue and Main Street (Route 64), St. Charles
June 6 – October 31
Fridays, 7:00 am to 1:00 pm
www.bakermemorialchurch.org <http://www.bakermemorialchurch.org>
Other Options for Local Food
Heritage Prairie Market
2N308 Brundige Rd.
Elburn, IL 60119
http://www.hpmfarm.com/?p=pages&page=FarmStore
2 miles west of Randall Rd. on Rte. 38, turn left on Brundige, the first farm on the right.
Monday thru Friday 9:00-6:00
Saturday and Sunday 9:00-4:00
Farm Stands
This information will be posted once it becomes available.
Natural Direct delivery
WWW.NaturalDirect.com
Oswego, Illinois
630-551-7878
Natural Direct delivers organic and natural produce to your door once a week. They provide local food too when it is available. Ann Gerardi writes, "They have always been friendly, flexible, reliable and the quality has been great. I've used them for a year now."
Community Supported Agriculture -- a partnership with a farmer to get fresh local produce weekly. Below are three good choices
Green Earth Institute
10S404 Knoch Knolls Road
Naperville, IL 60565-5447
630-664-5681
www.greenearthinstitute.org
Erehwon Farms
968 Pattee Ave.
Elburn, IL 60119
630-365-3741
http://erehwonfarm.com/
Angelic Organics
1547 Rockton Road
Caledonia, IL 61011
815-389-2746
www.angelicorganics.com