WATERTOWN, N.Y. — Each year, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County produces the Jefferson County Local Food Guide. The Local Food Guide points you to the freshest and best tasting food, grown and produced by farmers in Jefferson County. In the guide, you will find this year’s Farmers Market schedule, various farms and stands, retail stores selling local foods, and restaurants, breweries, and wineries that are using local products. The Local Food Guide also offers helpful tips for purchasing from farm stands, additional information on farming practices, using various food resources at Farmers Markets, and more!
Purchasing food locally is important for many reasons.
- You know where your food came from.
- In-season produce is often cheaper than the supermarket equivalent.
- You improve your diet by eating more vegetables and fruits.
- Locally grown produce will be fresher and will last longer in your refrigerator.
- Experience the world from your local farmers market! Small growers often sell unusual heirloom varieties that are difficult to find elsewhere.
- Help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint. Less packaging means less plastic waste. Less transportation of food from distant locations saves fuel.
- Support small businesses! Keep your dollars local by buying from local farmers and farm stands.
The Local Food Guide can be viewed online at http://ccejefferson.org/local-foods, or you can stop into the CCE Jefferson office to pick up a hard copy. An online, interactive version of the Local Food Guide can be found at https://www.jcnylocalfoods.org/.
The 2022 Jefferson County Local Food Guide was produced with funding from the following sponsors, Watertown Savings Bank, North Country Welcome Center Taste NY, and Jefferson County Economic Development.
–Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County
