Fresh from Our Farms
For a variety of reasons—health, fine cuisine, environmental impact, social justice, food security, thrift, cultural heritage preservation or economic development—“fresh local food” and “sustainable local food systems” are all important phrases to many folks in our country these days. And great things are happening, not only in big cities and trendy food meccas like NC’s Piedmont, but right here in Carteret County.
The Carteret Local Food Network (CLFN) was formed in 2008 to help build momentum and spread the word about what’s happening locally, so interested citizens like yourself can find ways to increase your access to locally farmed foods and make choices that support our local farming families. We all make choices shopping for many products – Fair and Local are great words to remember when buying groceries for your families. Our local farming families work very hard to bring you nutritious, seasonal produce picked at the peak of ripeness instead of optimal shipping sturdiness. We need to support their work by choosing to shop differently.
Here in Carteret County, there are many activities that we should all support and assist:
- Carteret Catch assist local fishing families market their products, find local retailers and restaurants serving their fish at www.carteretcatch.org
- four community gardens are underway and invite you to join their activities
- Cooperative Extension helps you learn how to grow your own fruits and vegetables, the Master Gardeners have four demonstration gardens (two specialize in home vegetable gardens)
- several markets offer seasonal foods for you to buy what you can’t/ won’t grow
Carteret Local Food Network exists to help you connect with locally grown and locally produced foods. Food that doesn’t travel thousands of miles is harvested fresher, more nutritious, and even better, often tastes much better!
What does the future of the local food scene in Carteret County hold? Let’s include helping school children and young adults who participate in FFA and 4-H, and encourage farmers grow more sustainably to minimize our impact on our environment and improve the quality of comestibles for us consumers.
We continue to find ways to share information and news about community food projects and sources of fresh local food.
Find our map and brochure (printable in pdf format on the ‘Local Farmers’ page) to guide you to the many roadside stands, farmers’ markets, retail stores, resources and demonstration gardens.
Join us in our efforts to promote these worthy goals. Contact us at carteretlocalfood@gmail.com. Sign up there to receive our periodic newsletters (your email information is kept strictly private and never shared).
As a new growing season approaches, the CLFN salutes all growers, gardeners, fishermen, educators, chefs, entrepreneurs, volunteers and others who bring good fresh food to our tables; and we look forward to a bountiful season ahead.
As our LOCAL Chamber of Commerce says –
“Shop Carteret First!”