Watermelon Festival on Sunday, August 1 at 4pm.
Click above for more information.
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.
In the past few months in Carteret County, we’ve seen many promising efforts - the doubling in size of the our Community Gardens (from two to four!), first year’s success at two area elementary schools, more informed shoppers at local high school’s FFA sales. Other cool happenings include the mid-Atlantic region's first Community-supported Fisheries was established and drew national attention [www.walking-fish.org]; the local public radio station's weekly news show "The Down East Journal" added a new segment about home gardening in this region; and a founding member of Carteret Catch was appointed to the newly formed NC Sustainable Local Food Advisory Council; the Chef's Garden at the Community College, a project of the Carteret Cooperative Extension Service’s Master Gardeners, is providing seasonal, fresh material for the Culinary students at the college.
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.
We continue to find ways to share information and news about community food projects and sources of fresh local food.
As our LOCAL Chamber of Commerce says –
“Shop Carteret First!”
Join us in our efforts to promote these worthy goals. Contact us at carteretlocalfood@gmail.com
