We are very excited to announce that this year’s edition of Seacoast Harvest lists more farms and farmers’ markets, as well as food pantries accepting fresh food donations, than ever before. We feel this reflects a strong and vibrant collaboration among the growing number of farmers in the area, an increasingly engaged community of consumers, our generous group of sponsors, and the dedicated volunteers who collected the information.
We are all members of various communities—via our friends, neighbors, children, coworkers, etc.—but everyone is a member of the food community. We all need food to survive. How we choose to grow, purchase, donate, or distribute that food is what makes the experience unique and meaningful.
Purchasing food from the people who have planted it, nurtured it, and harvested it is an altogether different experience than going to the grocery store. We engage in a relationship with the farmers and producers, discussing growing practices, the impact of the weather, experiments with new seeds, and even family life. Buying food becomes not just another item on our to-do list, but a means of connecting with others.
The community of local food consumers in the Seacoast is a growing and committed group. Thousands attend the Winter Farmers’ Market CSA Day, throngs pour down the aisles at area farmers’ markets, and food donation tables pile high with fresh produce. These scenes make it clear: people want to know where and how their food is grown, who is growing it, where to find it, and how to share it with others.
Seacoast farmers share this passion. They choose a career that combines hard work and creativity, not to mention the love of growing and providing fresh foods. In an increasingly hectic and mobile world, supporting their efforts is integral to a dynamic local food community.
We have a lot in store for you in Seacoast Harvest 2012. In addition to comprehensive farm data, we also have farmers’ market listings for every day of the week, options for donating fresh food, information on SNAP at the markets, tips on how to eat locally, and more. We hope you enjoy Seacoast Harvest and all it has to offer!
All the best,
Heather Hughes
Project Coordinator
Seacoast Harvest, a publication of Seacoast Eat Local, is made available free with the generous support of our community of sponsors, and can be found at farmers’ markets, farmstands and other Seacoast outlets. Seacoast Eat Local is also distributing Seacoast Harvest through the Portsmouth and Dover Farmers’ Markets — drop by our SNAP/Debit booth and pick up a copy! For an online searchable version of Seacoast Harvest, visit www.seacoastharvest.org.