Let's Get Local

Hit the farmer’s market before the supermarket. Plan your meal around local ingredients you find at the market, and round out your needs with a quick trip to the supermarket.

Shop on the weekends. Most markets take place on the weekends and give you an opportunity to spend time browsing the fresh selections and chatting with vendors. You can go home and begin preparing your local foods for the week.

Feed the freezer. Imagine fresh fruits and veggies in January?!?! It’s easy. Make lasagna with local tomatoes or a soup packed with fresh veggies and freeze them! You can also make personal size meals for a brown bag lunch.

Branch out. Maybe your usual food repertoire could use some fresh ideas. The farmer’s market provides a perfect chance to try new ingredients when they’re in season, and lets you talk to its grower to find out the best way to prepare your new food.

Go out! Many DC Metro area restaurants emphasize local foods in their dishes. Ask around, you might be surprised how many options you find that serve up local flavor.