Anyway, in my disappointment at getting nowhere, I finally made it to the downtown Farmer's Market. What a joy! I found a stand from a local family-owned organic farm with beautiful produce and bought a bunch of stuff for the week. I bought OJ from a local grove. I bought apple bread from an elderly couple that sells homemade baked goods to supplement their fixed income. I saw locally made soaps, candles, crafts, honey (I'm thinking Christmas presents for next year). Local nurseries were represented. Of course, there were also stands with produce that was not local, and other stuff from far away, but at least the benefits went to those in our own community.

I plan to go back as often as I can make it. I have started thinking more about how to support those local businesses in my area instead of big box stores. Sadly, there are not many left. I keep thinking about it and trying to find as many as I can identify.

Do any of you think about this? How do you support your local businesses and economy? Please give me ideas as to how I can get better at this. I am tired of all the trucks from California bringing citrus to us, and all the semis on the road going to Walmart, HD, etc. I'm trying to think more locally now.

The Red Barn Flea Market here in Bradenton has a lot of local produce. I "think" they are there 7 days a week.

Bradenton used to have a first Saturday farm market downtown Oct-Apr, but not many people went and it was discontinued for a time - don't know if it has restarted or not. Personally, there were too many arts and not enough produce to suit me. I heard that the farmers weren't getting enough return on their investment so they quit coming too.

The Loop Road Farm Market (formerly Geraldson's) in NW Manatee is open every day but Sunday. If they don't grow it, they purchase from co-ops in Tampa and Plant City. This is my favorite place for produce. I have only seen the highest quality produce at their stand.

I am at a loss at how to improve the situation. I buy locally whenever possible, but I must admit to buying elsewhere on occasion either for price or convenience. Elsewhere to me is an online purchase.

I suppose I am a bit of a defeatist because I don't see the situation changing much until large scale changes are made in trade and economic agreements with other countries - and additionally, changes in the work ethics and habits of people in our own country.

Joanm, that's a really nice site. I plan on spending more time there tomorrow. Thanks for posting it.

Ladywingr, it sounds like there are a few options in Bradenton. I am just starting to explore the options in my area. The problem is that if I have to get in the car and travel more than a few minutes, it defeats the purpose. However, I am noticing there is a little stand out east where I sometimes have to go. Next time I go that way I'm going to check it out and see what they have and where its from. I feel frustrated about what little is available in a way that's convenient for me. I have gotten so used to going to Publix, HD, Walmart, etc. It's really hard and takes effort to try to think of other choices. I was really pleased with what I found at the flea market, and I plan to go regularly. As I drive now, I'm looking around for small businesses that may have things I may need. I've been reading labels of everything I buy to see where it came from. It may not make a huge difference in the world, but if we all start doing a little, maybe someday the trend will start to improve. I've got to say, I made the best stirfry with all the stuff I got at the fleamarket. The stand I got it from was from an organic farm in Punta Gorda. It was called Worden Farm. It is family owned. I looked at their website and it says they give tours of their farm sometimes. I plan to go sometime. I love that stuff. I'd love to learn more about organic techniques, too.

If anyone comes up with ideas about how to find or support local businesses of any type, please let us know.

Anna

Another option that we've been using is an organic coop/delivery service. We have one in the Miami area that doesn't sell exclusively Florida-grown or raised items, but tries hard to get them and is careful to note in big letters everything that is local. It's basically an online grocery store with delivery service. deliciousorganics.com They also sell some non-certified organic products from farmers that are transitioning to organic, or are following organic principles but can't afford the lengthy and costly certification process.

We get great produce and meat/poultry/fish from them and I'm always watching for something I wouldn't buy normally that they've bought locally. I've gotten several interesting squashes that way, things like delicatta that I don't even see in Publix.

Also, I got a locally grown organic cantelope last year, planted the seeds, and got two more cantelopes before my boyfriend pulled it up thinking that all vines are weeds (he and I are at war over an alamanda too.)

I've been trying more and more of the seeds from local organically grown veggies, figuring if an organic grower nearby can produce them, they're probably well-suited to the conditions here and maybe they'll also work with my haphazard, low-water, very little fertilizer method of gardening. It's a practically free way of lowering the fuel costs of my food a second time, after supporting local growers the first time.

It surprised me when I did this with the cantelope that I couldn't get cantelopes locally later in the season. I mean, if I can grow them, seems like local professionals would have had them too. But I don't claim to understand the economics of trying to make a go of a farm in Florida. I do feel better supporting them whenever I can, and growing my own whenever I can.

Susannah

That coop sounds interesting. I don't know if there is such a thing around here. I will try to find out. I know there are a couple of CSA's (can't remember what the initials stand for) where you pay a yearly fee to a local farm and each week they pack a share of their produce for you. I have thought of doing this, but for now, I'm enjoying going to the Farmer's market.

That's really cool about the cantaloupe. I've never tried any type of melons. A couple of years ago I had volunteer pumpkins in my compost pile (I had gathered all the Halloween pumpkins in the neighborhood and put them in the compost pile) and they were beautiful. However, they got vine borers and we were never able to do anything with them.

We don't go out to dinner much, but we have been trying to go only to locally owned restaurants. With our economy as it is, I feel good about trying to support local small businesses.

Honestly, the cantelope surprised me. I was just goofing around with the seeds because it seemed a shame to toss them in the compost. When I actually got a fruit, I was amazed. And they were good, as sweet as the ones we bought. But it seems last year was my year for random easy gardening and my early success had nothing to do with me. We had more tomatoes and broccoli than we could eat last year, so I assumed I could just plant stuff and feed us this year.

Huge new vegetable garden + unseasonably hot winter = no veggies.

But I'm still putting in squash seeds every time I buy one. They all come up, but so far none have produced. Just like my broccoli and tomatoes this year. All I get is the occassional pepper. Even arugula is a no-go this year, and we were overwhelmed with it last year. Frustrating, but a learning experience.

But it's feeling a little chilly here tonight, in a Miami, shorts and a sweatshirt kind of way, so maybe my tomatoes and broccoli and squash and all the other stuff I planted are about to suddenly produce>

s

Thanks,

Tropicalfreak

I am like you and I try to support local businesses. I was very frustrated when I tried to buy only local produce and I could not find places that sold it. I live within 10 minutes of 3 or 4 packing companies but they all seem to ship their produce to other places and other companies seem to ship it here. One place where I found some local produce was the 99 Cent store but they closed the one near me so I don't know if they are still in business.

I did find a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm 10 minutes away from me and this is my second season of being a subscriber. The first year I did not get in because they had a long waiting list but last year I got in and this season it was authomatic. I really like it. I have met all the people that work there and it is great to know exactly where the vegetables came from. It is not for everybody because you have to learn to cook and eat what is locally available but it is worth it. We just went to their annual open house and my husband, mother in law and kids loved it. They had some purple and white carrots! They always try to grow different things so it is always exciting.

Tropicalfreak, I have not been able to find a place to buy fresh eggs or meat. I used to buy from a family that grew the stuff in Fort Pierce and would deliver it twice a month in South Florida but it got to be too complicated. I need to search again.

Carmen