It’s the last weekend before Thanksgiving, time to shop and buy local at farmers markets and farm stands. The news this week reported that Butterball has a shortage of turkeys over 16 lbs. so maybe it’s a sign to look a little closer to home for your Thanksgiving Day bird. The taste of a fresh, free-range bird beats a frozen bird any day. According to the annual American Farm Bureau “Thanksgiving Dinner Survey,” the cost of a traditional turkey dinner for ten is $49.04, down from $49.48 last year. It's also slightly less than in 2011. Let’s think about what it took to get that meal to the table. How far is the closest Butterball plant? Well, it’s 719 miles away, located in MT Olive, North Carolina. I don’t even want to think about how much fuel it takes for that trip. Potatoes originally came from South America, today most come from 2,673 miles away, otherwise known as Idaho. Winter Squash mainly ships in from Florida with California a close second place, or should I say far? We’ll pick Florida at a distance of 1,353 miles. Green peas come from Minnesota, that’s 1,553 miles away. Cranberries, now this one totally shocked me, I expected to find this traditional fruit to be locally sourced. Since 1995, Wisconsin has produced the largest crop of cranberries, 1,160 miles away from our own bogs. So, in mileage, your meal has traveled 7,458 miles to Massachusetts to make it on to your plate. With Thanksgiving a week away, the Patrick Administration encourages everyone to support local farmers by purchasing turkeys raised in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) “…is expecting approximately 62,000 turkeys at over 150 Commonwealth farms with a value of almost $3 million this year. Buying local turkeys makes a significant contribution to the Massachusetts economy.” So where do you buy farm fresh turkeys? Rainbow Farms in Rehoboth is the closest according to MDAR, but everyone knows that Asack’s in West Bridgewater is truly the closest. Rehoboth is just 16.2 miles and West Bridgewater is a mere 7.1 miles from Easton. Potatoes, winter squash, green peas and cranberries that are located less than 3 miles from home are all available at the Original Easton Farmers Market. Everything is grown locally from Langwater Farm and Oakdale farm, located in Easton and Rehoboth. This saves your food a grand 7,438.8 miles in travel time. It is just amazing how much fuel we would save, reduce the carbon output, eat healthier and help local farms if we all bought our food locally this holiday. While you are at the farmers market, kick that meal up a notch with some organic bread, cheese, wine, and flowers for the family members to enjoy as you give thanks and feast on the local meal.
Thanksgiving is a day to reflect on what we’re thankful for, I’m thankful for my kids, my girlfriend, the life we all have together, and for living in this wonderful town of Easton. As a town we have so much to be thankful for, what better way to give back to the community and spread holiday spirit then by supporting local vendors? One of my favorite things about Easton is the ability to buy my food from the people who grow it, it makes me feel good to know where my food comes from and I think it makes it taste that much better. The doors will open at the Original Easton Farmers Market at 10am at Oakes Ames Hall in the down town this Saturday, the 23rd. Get a locally sourced breakfast at the Farmers Daughter and then walk on over to the hall. Hope to see you there. The first person who tells the Market Manager, Kathy Buckley, where the closest farm fresh Turkey farm is located receives a free cinnamon bun from Bridgewater Village Bakery, a sinfully delicious treat that you don’t want to miss.
