Take the Eat Local America Challenge

From August 15 through September 15, eleven Twin Cities food co-ops, including Linden Hills Co-op, challenged our shoppers and members to eat local during peak harvest season. Check out the article in the Southwest Journal about the Challenge to learn more.

There are two easy ways to take the pledge: either commit to making five meals a week (including breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner) from locally-grown, locally-produced ingredients; or for an entire month, choose 80% or more of your food from the rich variety of local and seasonal sources. That’s roughly four out of five items you put in your mouth—or four out of five ingredients in a dish. And when we say “local,” we’ll even throw in Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas!

Need inspiration for a month of eating local? Pick up suggested menus and recipes at the store. Download this list of local producers and farmers whose food we offer at Linden Hills Co-op. Read one of the many wonderful books available on the subject (a current favorite is Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle). Check out the Eat Local America blog at www.eatlocalamerica.coop. Get a copy of this great list of reasons to eat local and what’s in season in Minnesota. Ask a staff member what’s fresh and local—and look for the bright green LOCAL labels in the store.

The August-September Rollin’ Oats Journal has lots of great articles, recipes, and information about eating locally, too—just click here for a PDF copy.