Local Farming Brings Benefits

When you are shopping at a grocery store, do you ever think about where the food comes from,…
how long has it been sitting,…who planted it,…or what chemicals were sprayed on it?
After all, it’s not like you would just eat something without knowing what it is… right?

Farming and agriculture have been critical staples of society for thousands of years.
It was a catalyst that jump-started humanity into an age of civilization, but now, at the peak of civilization, fresh food is not even seen as a necessity.
Food from a grocery store could be from anywhere, and because most produce is shipped over a large physical distance, lack of freshness and accessibility is common.

Wendy Fitzgerald, a teacher at Shrewsbury Elementary, helps her family with FoxTail Hill Farm in Dallastown.

“We have a small farm that raises beef cattle and hay,” Fitzgerald said. “We are mostly sustainable for ourselves.”

Having a good relationship with your local farms opens opportunities for fresh food.
Also, knowing where produce is coming from, who grew it, and who prepared it creates a better connection within the community.
When people buy local that money stays in and strengthens the local economy because supporting local farming also means supporting other small businesses.

¨We do not sell produce,” Fitzgerald said. “We market our beef through private sale to customers that are interested in a ¼ or ½ side of beef for their freezer. The local butcher is down the road from us, so it is easy to deliver our beef and have the customer pick it up within a short time frame.”

If you are wondering what’s best to buy from a farm, meat is always a good option, so is in-season produce, like flowers and herbs.
Farmers markets are a great way to get involved and see who is selling.
Most farms advertise by word of mouth, so it is important to visit events like this and to ask around.

“A local farm market is a great place to start,” Fitzgerald said. “There are several in the area that are seasonal, but there are a few that are year-round… There are many resources available from local individuals, sometimes you just have to ask a local merchant.”

A commonality that Wendy Fitzgerald expressed was that farmers have it in their blood.
Especially if they are a family farm and grew up doing it- it´s a way of life, not just a job.

“It all becomes intricately connected,” Fitzgerald said. “Also, there is a sense of community when you know where your food comes from. All local farms take great pride and care in the product that they produce.”