Seven Things You Can Do To Localize

Individuals:

1. Adventurous Veggies
   Try at least one new locally grown fruit or vegetable each week.
   
2. Stock Up
   Preserve fresh foods in season to enjoy later in the year (freeze, can, dehydrate).
   
3. Special Occasions
   Rely on local bakeries and specialty food producers to honor special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries and other special events.
   
4. Local Java
   Replace the Folgers with locally-roasted, fairly-traded, organically grown coffee. Replace sugar with local honey or maple sugar and creamer with real milk from a local dairy.
   
5. Look for Local Brands
   Substitute local brands of food for national brands. NE Ohio boasts a delicious variety of locally made dairy products, salsas, snack items and more.
   
6. Group Purchasing
   Join a CSA or organize a buyers’ club or group purchasing from a local farmers’ market.
   
7. Get Involved
   Donate your time as a volunteer at a local farmers’ market or CSA farm in your community. Markets are always looking for dedicated volunteers and offer a fun way to learn more about local food and connect with local farms and producers. For a list of markets near you check out the Farmers’ Market Directory for Northeast Ohio in our Countryside Harvest Guide.  Join a local food or sustainable agriculture organization in your area and support their efforts. For information about becoming involved with the Countryside Conservancy, click here.                                                                                        
   

 Businesses & Organizations:

1. Catering/Food Service Contractors
   Contract with locally-owned caterers, food service providers and food distributors who purchase directly from local farmers and food producers.
   
2. Localize Lunch
   Hold business lunches and events at locally-owned restaurants that purchase from local farmers and producers. Organize an Eat Local Lunch brown bag event at work.
   
3. Special Occasions
   Rely on local bakeries and specialty food producers to honor special occasions in the workplace like birthdays, anniversaries and other special events.
   
4. The Office Coffee Bar
   Replace the Folgers with locally-roasted, fairly-traded, organically grown coffee at your office or workplace. Replace sugar with local honey or maple sugar and creamer with real milk from a local dairy.
   
5. Organize Employee Purchases of Local Food
   Encourage employees to organize a buyers’ club or group purchasing from a local farmers’ market or CSA farm.
   
6. Start Small
   Purchase locally grown apples instead of imports, enjoy fresh, seasonal veggies, choose locally brewed beer for happy hour, etc.
   
7. Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
   Sponsor or donate to a farmers’ market or CSA in your community. Markets always need sponsors and volunteers.