The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Taste of Oneida returns to Cottage Lawn
Fresh local fruits, vegetables and more makes a comeback to the Cottage Lawn Farmer’s Market.
Why Buy Local? Do you know where your tomatoes come from? Browsing the aisles of the supermarket, you may not consider this factor when choosing your produce — it is much easier to notice the brightest colors or, more often, the lowest price. However, did you know that where your food is grown can have a huge impact on its quality, taste, and even its nutritional benefits?
It may seem like a modern marvel that we are able to buy strawberries in the dead of winter, but those strawberries have had to travel hundreds, if not thousands of miles to arrive in your upstate New York super-
market. To survive this journey, they were likely picked before they were ripe and stored at very cool temperatures before arriving at the store.
Buying local has many benefits, both nutritionally and community based.
• Buying local reduces environmental impact. Locally owned businesses make more local purchases, requiring less transportation. It also means that the food has traveled less to get to the place in which you are purchasing it from.
• Keeps our community unique. One of the unique things about Upstate New York is its wide-open, green spaces. By buying local from farms or area markets, you are helping oneof-a-kind businesses. They add to the distinctive character of our areas and preserve open space. Know your product. Buying from a local producer allows you to ask questions to learn about the operation. You get to choose the food or product that fits your wants and needs. If you want organic practices, grass fed, no pesticides, etc., whatever it is, you can ask your producer and they’ll let you know what sustainable practices they’ve used!
Buying local and supporting the farmers within your county or surrounding counties helps you nutritionally to get riper, higher nutrition foods, but also al- lows your dollars to stay more local. By keeping your dollars local, we keep our area farmers in business and maintain our picturesque greenscape.
If you are interested in buying local, the Cottage Lawn Farmers Market will be hosting a Taste of Oneida event on June 19. This event is focused on showcasing the array of delicious food that is produced right here in our area, including a chef demonstration. Join them on June 19 from 3-7 p.m. at the Cottage Lawn Farmer’s Market, at 435 Main St., Oneida, and taste for yourself how just how delicious local food can be.