Are You Good for 20?

Wednesday is the day Baby Lemon and I usually venture out to our local farmer's market. But Baby Lemon had surgery a few days ago, and I've been attacked by an amalgam of allergies and a cold and possibly a titch of the flu, so. It's just not in the stars. No farmer's market today.

Dear Universe,
     If you'd like to spread some of the "fun" around to other people, we're sort of ready for a breather.
Love,
     The Lemon family

But in the spirit of Farmer's Market Wednesday, I'll pass on a link I found this week. The Good for 20 initiative aims to redirect some of the public's weekly food budget back to local farmers. The site and the movement are still in their infancy. But I think it's a worthy cause, regardless of the lack of glitz and glam. Truthfully, we spend most of our weekly food dollars at the farmer's market, stocking up on staples like flour and pasta once a month or as we run low. Our little market doesn't usually have dairy or meat vendors, so I need to make a trip to the grocery store once a week for those items. But I try to get a good variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs from the farmer's market and fashion our weekly menus around the current offerings.

You should know that one of the perks of shopping at farmer's markets frequently is becoming a regular. Farmers and small vendors love their regulars. Last week, I wanted to buy three 1-lb. trays of oranges for $2 each. The vendor, who rings up my total market purchase every week, offered me a 10-lb. sack of oranges for $7. Why, don't mind if I do. That's what the 8-lb. sacks cost at our local grocery store, but I got to meet the person who grew the oranges when I bought them. It just felt nice.

I invite you to see if there are any farmer's markets in your area this week (I recognize that some of you are still in the throes of this winter thing). If not, see if you can use your food dollars at a local bakery, or even at your grocery store on local items. There's something distinctly satisfying about enjoying local bounty. What will you buy this week?