3 ways to connect with your food and those who grow it

3 ways to connect with your food and those who grow it

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SALT LAKE CITY — During winter the fields are at rest, yet it’s a good time to invest in a renewed focus on healthy food relationships in the growing seasons ahead.

When you consider how food is grown and the relationships that support its journey from field to table, you can become aware of how connected we are to what we eat.

There are multiple steps in the farm-to-table system that can be explored, participated in, and shared with others and each represents a food relationship that can be nourished. The term farm-to-table has a variety of meanings, although often refers to foods grown close to home by local farmers or gardeners. When considering the many steps involved in food production and distribution, it can be easy to see why growing enough food to feed families and communities truly requires a collective effort.

With this in mind, the question of what types of food relationships to build might arise. One of the ways to begin building more intentional food relationships is to find ways to connect with local food growers.

1. Connecting with farmers in your area

There are a growing number of opportunities to reconnect with the individuals that grow food such as at Farmers Markets or with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Yet, at the same time, farmers need additional support to help protect their livelihood and agricultural lands.

Based on census information from 2012, the average age of farmers is increasing and the total number of farmers is declining. A hopeful trend indicates an increase in new farmers under the age of 35 and a variety of organizations are now working to support and encourage farmers that are just getting started.

For others, connecting with farmers in local communities is a way to know more about where and how food is grown. Talking directly to those that provide fresh vegetables, fruits, poultry, meats, dairy, eggs and other food products fresh from a Farmers Market can be a great way to build relationships with farmers. Visiting farms to purchase fresh, locally grown foods at farm stands directly is another option.

Kids, in particular, can enjoy exploring the many activities that typically occur on the farm. With increased public interest, more farms are offering tours, workshops, and even internships to help communities connect around growing food.

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2. Connecting with home gardeners

While the number of total farmers may be declining, there is an increase in individuals growing food in home gardens. According to The National Gardening Association, 1 in 3 American households are growing food and the number of home gardens and community gardens is on the rise. That’s good news because home gardening may provide a variety of benefits including a source of fresh, healthy produce, opportunities for physical activity, natural stress relief, and even ways for family and children to spend time together.

New types of organizations are connecting individuals such as older adults that have yard space available with garden volunteers that can offer time and energy toward building and maintaining a home garden. These interactions also build healthy community relationships as individuals exchange resources.

3. Connecting with local food producers

Another positive trend is the increasing number of small food producers that take produce and other raw ingredients and create flavorful and unique foods not typically available in larger stores and groceries. These small batch foods include offerings like fresh baked breads, pickled vegetables, handmade yogurts, and other products. Often these small-batch producers are able to offer product samples, as well as weekly varieties or seasonal features that can make it fun to discover what’s new.

It’s sometimes surprising to find out how many different food producers are available within a relatively short distance from home. Each producer has a story and supports food relationships in the community. One way to find produces of local food products is through listings sponsored by state agriculture agencies. Another is to look for food labeling that identifies a product that is made by local producers.

Ultimately, what helps relationships is the collective exchange around growing, producing, and distributing foods regardless of the starting point. Get involved in your community either by purchasing food from a local farmer, supporting an elderly neighbor with a home garden, or by shopping closer to home from local food producers. These are all easy ways to build stronger food relationships and a more resilient local food economy.


![Suzanne Lewis](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2582/258289/25828932\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Suzanne Lewis -------------------------------

Suzanne is a registered dietitian nutritionist with degrees from Brown University and the University of Utah. For the past 10 years, Suzanne has developed and delivered nutrition and lifestyle behavior change programs to help individuals optimize their overall wellness. She is an avid trail runner and is working to complete her yoga teacher certification. You can read more from Suzanne at revitalnutrition.com.

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