In this article I’m going to tell you how to get high quality organic food straight from the source.
Before I get into the nitty gritty, I want to know if this has happened to you...
I was pushing my cart with one screechy wheel past shelf after shelf of plastic packaged food, when I noticed something. Even though I was cruising down aisle after aisle, my cart was practically empty.
I checked in with my body and I noticed a queasy uneasiness about this whole outing.
Mostly everything I walked past in this market, I couldn’t feel good about putting in my body. I saw the fruit and veggies that I wouldn’t want to eat because of the unnatural shine from the film of wax. Then I walked by the pre-packaged meat that made my stomach drop.
I just didn’t know if could trust the packaging labels.
Even the produce section, the displays and the lighting, it all felt so unnatural. So disconnected from its roots.
I walked out of the supermarket with just a bottle of coconut oil, feeling completely fed up with how we deal with food in this society.
Has this ever happened to you? Have you walked down the aisles seeing things you used to eat but now know you would feel like utter garbage if you actually ingested it?
What makes it worse is that most people will eat it because it’s so convenient. It takes too much effort from our already busy lives to find an alternative.
But this isn’t a “woe is me” kind of article. I’m not here to complain. I’m here to offer you a solution.
You see I’m a little bit more intense than most people. So I found an easy way to cut out the middleman and go straight to the source: make friends with farmers.
As soon as the idea struck me I searched for some Farmer’s Markets around NYC. I visited a few, approached some farmers, made my pitch. I struck up some deals and they loved me for it.
Now I get fresh high-quality food like swiss chard, dandelion and kale in bulk from these farmers every month. I’ve gotten deals on fresh fish as well. Even better is that I pay less than I would at the supermarket.
Now I’m going to show you exactly how to strike up deals just like this.
Step 1: Find Your Farmers’ Markets
Hop on to Google and search Farmers Markets [Your Town]. That should produce a solid list of local farmers markets that you can target.
I went to Union Square Farmers Market and I was so surprised that I could speak to them directly about their food. I could talk to someone real.
Step 2: Find Your Food
Peruse around the farmers market for a bit to find your favorite stashes. Look for what looks good and how it’s presented. Some have guides that you can check out to help better direct you.
Step 3: Start The Conversation
You don’t want to dive straight into making deals. Engage in some usual conversation. Ask them about their day.
I’d start off by saying “Oh I’m from the Hudson Valley too” to start off the conversation with a shared connection.
Then ask them about their craft and determine if you trust them as a source for your food. How long have they been farming? Is it organic? What’s their favorite crop to grow? Do you use pesticides? Is their meat grass-fed and grass-finished?
Step 4: Make The Pitch
Here’s where you strike up the deal.
Here are the questions you want to ask:
Are you involved in any food co-ops?
Are you involved in anything where I can buy your food in bulk? Do you offer anything?
If I were to buy your food could you give me a discount and I’ll only buy through you? How much would I have to spend a month? I’ll be sure to tell my friends and send them your way.
Ask them if they’re interested in selling on a monthly basis. You could purchase $X worth if they were willing to give you a reduced rate for buying in bulk.
This exactly how I struck up my first deal was with a local Hudson Valley vendor from my hometown.
Step 5: Cook Up Something Tasty!
What will you cook with your source of food from your newly found farmer friend?
I like to juice personally. I use a base of coconut milk with greens and bananas plus a splash of lemon and ginger.
Get To It
Now it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to completely avoid trips to the supermarket. I still have to go for certain things but with this strategy you can directly support the source of your food, save yourself some money, and cut out some of the sorrow of supporting plastic packaged pseudo- foods in what seems to be every aisle of every supermarket.
Author: Tara Magalski is a Holistic Health Counselor (CHHC & AADP) & founder of The FEED System; giving you tools to help you live a Divine Lifestyle that FEED your spirit, mind and body. Get more health, lifestyles tips and strategies like this on her website http://taramagalski.com. You can also visit her YouTube channel for new videos each week: https://www.youtube.com/user/taramagalski1
