Toni Chanakas · Why I buy Local Food!

September 13th, 2010

It’s a hot July Tuesday evening, the windows rolled down in my banged up Mazda 3; I finally found a shaded parking space along the street. I popped the trunk to retrieve my cloth shopping bags; one will suffice. I quickly take a stroll through Lincoln Park so I can get to the entrance of the Tremont Farmers Market. This market has been a common occurrence on Tuesday evening from 4 to 7PM, its second year.

Why do I attend this market every Tuesday? It’s the hometown community feeling when I get to see the local farmers pedaling their wares. I usually buy my lettuce from two sisters who live in the area. I told them how excited I was that my tomatoes are almost ready for harvest. They practically know what I need when I appear at their stand, “Some lettuce, please!” My memory still lingers when I bought that first bunch of red, curly lettuce, how fresh it tasted; plus, how much longer it lasted in the refrigerator. How can I buy lettuce from a grocery store?

I’m hooked! I really cannot afford to buy lavishly; but I buy a few items every week that consist of zucchini, lettuce or peppers. I hear the common complaint; it’s too expensive. Surely it is but you are helping the Cleveland economy prosper plus getting better nutrients into your body. For example, I might buy two zucchini’s for about $2.00, which makes a meal for several days. I simply sauté the vegetables with olive oil, onions, garlic, and/or mushrooms; plus, I throw in a can of beans. Delicious!

Quite frankly, this summer I have eaten nothing but vegetables (poultry once/twice a week) that I bought from the Tremont market, or a local grocery store, plus my fantastic homegrown tomatoes and peppers. I feel energized and healthier for it. We, as a community, need to educate our residents and young people that a healthy diet will eliminate disease and enrich their minds. I consistently pick up plastic bottles of sugary juices and pop. Are individuals aware of all the sugar they are putting into their bodies? I seriously doubt it.

Another important component that the Farmers Market has done is creating a thinking process – what goes into our bodies and how far food travels to get to the table – education. Once you take the chance and buy local, the taste and how you are helping the environment will become infectious. Plus, what I see in the local farmer’s is the pride for the produce they display. Oversized tomatoes and giant zucchini were just left on the plant for an extra day. And, all the farmers will enthusiastically tell you about their produce.

Surely, everyone is busy that they can’t make it to a local farmer’s market, weekly or monthly. But, they are multiplying every season. In fact, I just learned about a new market, the Downtown Farmers’ Market at Public Square from 11am – 2PM on Fridays (across from the Old Stone Church). They have the regular items but what I thought was unique is the “pastured chicken, duck and turkey” that eat grass. A new company called Green Pastures Poultry where I had the pleasure to meet the owner. What they need is customers, so, please spread the word. Moreover, there is a market in Shaker Square area on Saturday’s; the Coit Road Farmers’ Market in East Cleveland, North Union Farmers Market in Lakewood has a new market this season, plus Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market as well. Local food is growing as a main stay in providing a healthy alternative. So, get with the program.

The Tremont Farmer’s market is just like coming home from a hard days work. I post continuously on twitter and facebook about the products. From the chef’s demonstrations from local restaurants Fat Cats or Bar Cento, live music, a flood of patrons with children running around with fresh pizza in their hands, and dogs wandering aimlessly, I look over my shoulder as I slowly walk to my car. Now this is a community and so many others will enhance and prosper Cleveland that we will all be proud of very soon.

The links below are for the Farmers’ Market. I am sure I have forgotten some.

Tremont Farmers’ Market
http://tremontfarmersmarket.com

Downtown Farmers’ Market
http://downtownclevelandmarket.blogspot.com

Fresh Poultry
www.greenpasturespoultry.com

Shaker Farmers’ Market
http://www.shakersquare.net/farmersmarket.htm

Coit Farmers’ Market
www.coitmarket.org

Lakewood Farmers Market
http://www.lkwdpl.org/farmersmarket

Kamm’s Corner Farmers’ Market
http://www.kammscorners.com/farmersmarket.html

For more information on Local Food, visit the web site:
www.localfoodcleveland.org

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