By Pat Ostrander
Co-op Staff
What’s Local?
In the show Portlandia a couple eats at a café featuring locally sourced food. They ask the waitress how local their chicken is, and she returns with a picture of the chicken, it’s name and directions to the farm where it was raised. Here at the NCFC we do not know the names of the locally sourced meat, poultry, egg layers, whether they be chicken or duck (geese on occasion) but you can take a ten minute drive “up ta” Conroy’s and see the “hairy hippie cows” as someone once called them. And you could definitely meet up with one of the local produce growers, either here or out and about. In this new section of the newsletter, we will feature information on the local food and products we sell, the folks who produce them, as well as current sales on such products.
First let’s begin with a discussion on what “local” means. Back in the day when the NCFC and many other co-ops began (early seventies), “think globally, act locally” was the hip thing to say. Still is, perhaps even more true now that we have become keenly aware of the economic and ecological cost of transporting food over distance, i.e., our “carbon footprint”.
One way of reducing this cost is by supporting local food producers, craft people, community gardens, local restaurants which feature locally sourced food, all of which help communities become more self-sufficient . The simplest way of defining what local is is to give the distance from the source to the NCFC.
Veggies
Lets’ begin close to home. This past summer and fall featured veggies from Fledging Crow, Quarry Garden, Juniper Hill Farm, Darby Farm, all well within a fifty mile radius. As of this writing, there are still squashes, potatoes, and garlic for sale. Thanks to all these folks for their contributions. Blessings to them all, and we’ll see you again next year.
Meats
Local beef (ground beef ) comes courtesy of the aforementioned Conroy’s as well as KIlcoyne Farms in Brasher Falls(70 plus miles away). Pork (chops, ground, and sausages) comes from Asgaard Farms, located in Ausable Forks( approx. 30 miles), which also supplies some amazing goat milk caramels. Note: We have limited freezer space, but can special order from our suppliers.
Dairy
Refrigerated Cheese and yogurt from the North Country Creamery, down in Keeseville
Sweet Stuff
Dick Crawford(Adirondack Bee Supply) has kept the sweetness flowing here since the beginning of time itself(or so it seems ), and maple syrup from Samples and Parkers is a staple.
In conclusion, the price may be a bit higher, but consider the benefits. Healthier for the consumer, ecologically healthier for the planet. Cheaper if you are a member/owner, and ultimately better for all as we grow our sustainable community for generations to come.