Buy Local

The Buy Local Challenge is going on now through July 26th in the state of Maryland. It is a voluntary pledge to include locally grown products such as produce, eggs, meat, fruit and wine in your meals for one week. It was conceived and launched in 2007 by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (SMADC) to highlight the benefits of buying local to Maryland's economy and environment.

This year, SMADC extended the invitation to all states to participate in the annual Buy Local Challenge with the idea that a unified nationwide effort during the last full week in July will be a profound way to spotlight the need to support local farms.

If everyone across the country embraced the Buy Local Challenge, it would bring a positive and profound impact to our farms, our communities and our planet for generations to come.

Why buy local? First of all, you get fresh, nutritious food that supports your local economy and decreases pollution and green house gases because food travels a shorter distance. Why ship produce from California when you can find it in your own back yard?

According to the Buy Local Challenge, if every household in Maryland purchased just $12 worth of farm products for eight weeks (basically the summer season), over $200 million would be put back into the pockets of our farmers.

So buy local! Visit your local farmers' market, join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or ask your local market to provide local produce if they aren't already.

Find out where to buy local in Maryland.

Find out about farmers' markets and CSA in Maryland and across the U.S.

Find out what fruits and vegetables are in season right now.