Kelly's Kitchen - Money Saving Tips with Local Foods

			Buy Local, Buy Vermont
			Vermont Agency of Agriculture

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As consumer prices rise, many of us wish that we had more local control over the factors that are driving up the cost of basic necessities like the food we eat. Almost all of us are still vulnerable to dramatic changes in the national and global markets. However, the local foods movement does offer one alternative and some shifts in shopping habits can make sure you get the most for your local dollar. Here is a list of Top 5 shopping tips to buy local without breaking the bank.

Focus on Good, Simple Food: A lot of the money in national foods goes into paying for processing and fancy packaging. Buying basic ingredients saves money. This might mean improving your cooking skills and learning time saving tips in the kitchen.
Look for Seasons not Sales: Conventional supermarkets present their deals in advertised sales. In many local food outlets, like Farmers’ Markets and Farm Stands, those deals show up as the seasons change and farmers are overwhelmed when certain produce ripens at once. Just like a supermarket sale, money can be saved by buying in bulk at these times.
Remember that Boneless Chicken Breasts Come from Birds: Farmers, unlike manufacturers, have to sell what nature gives them. They can’t just increase the number of chicken breasts or decrease the number of wings based on what customers want. Learning to work with less popular cuts of meat, whole chickens, cosmetically damaged produce, and all the edible parts of a plant results in overall savings and less waste.
Eat Based on Satisfaction: Every year Americans spend millions of dollars on empty calories. Often, these products taste good but make us more hungry. For example, a can of soda. Switching to whole ingredients and satisfying meals instead of quick snacks helps both the wallet and the waistline.
Treat Yourself to a Local Specialty: Vermont has an international reputation for high quality food. When it’s time to indulge in a treat, check out the selection of artisan cheeses, maple confections, handcrafted ice creams, fresh baked breads and dozens of other local products that are the best in the world.