Support Our Farmers & Buy Local
It's now such a critical time to support our local farmers in all categories of produce... meat, vegetables, dairy, fruit & grain. The last 6 months has been constant & relentless hardship for the farming industry. They've had to battle with droughts (time & time again), the shocking bushfire season, the floods & now the huge impact of Coronavirus. It's been a rough time to say the very least & farmers have copped it big time. The financial devastation is one thing (one huge thing) ... but think about their mental health. It's hard to even comprehend what they must go through on a daily basis. The mental health of those who work tireless in the Australian farming industry is our shared responsibility. They've been feeding us amazing produce for so long, so let's return the favour. Think & shop with both your & your heart. Please - shop local as much as you can.
I watched The Project the other night & heard one farming community confirm that it was costing them up to 350k a month to sustain their business due to the Covid outbreak. They're waking up morning after morning just waiting for some good news - a break in this horrible cycle. The saddest part is that there is no such break currently in sight. While the duo interviewed explained their concern about the future of their business, they were also very scared about what it all meant for their staff. The domino effect is quick & it's brutal as many Australian families stand to lose their livelihood which is simply horrible.
I can't stress enough - we all really need to step up and buy local. Farmers markets & independent stores, butchers and bakeries is where we need to set out focus. Yes it might add one more stop, but the effect could be huge if we make a collective change. These guys need you. Not only do they need the local traffic & of course the local dollar, but they need each and every one of us to spread the word to increase their chance of survival.
It's a simple change to make for most Australian households. And if you're unsure about where you can find your local suppliers - ask around. Text your friends & families to ask where they're shopping. Since the start of the Covid spread, many businesses are now offering delivery services where you can order meat or fresh produce and have it delivered right to your door stop. This means you can shop to last you a week or more, meaning less trips out & well stocked fridges! And I promise you ... the fresh stuff is TASTIER! It's more nutritious, more colourful, more packed full of goodness. If you choose organic, your goodies will have been grown with no chemicals and pesticides. There is nothing better than that right?
I've listed the local businesses that I've become aware of in my area below. Please help me find more by commenting below below with the names of local suppliers you know of. I'm always wanting to support and learn. Currently, I'm getting deliveries from the below suppliers and it's amazing;
Veggie Boxes;
Farmer Foster @farmer.foster
The Farm Folk @thefarmfolk
Sun Coast fresh @suncoast_fresh
Meat Boxes;
Farm Gate Providore @farmgatefresh
The deliveries come straight to your door. Think the freshest of produce that is in season ... this is the key! If you notice something "common" is missing, for example perhaps a particular fruit or an avocado, it simply means they are probably not in season and they haven't been imported or unfrozen simply for our convenience. What's present is fresh! Sometimes the delivery boxes include a range of vegetables you may never have seen before. I love this!! This is one of the best parts of this system! It's so much fun learning about new ways to cook with them.
Australia farms & grows such wonderful produce. We are so lucky to have premium & nourishing food available to us, so we really do need to support the local businesses in every way possible, to make sure that their existence in the future is safe.
If anyone is looking for a great organisation to look into RE making a donation to support our local farming communities, Drought Angels are 100% worth a read into. Drought Angels provide financial assistance, essential resources and meaningful relief to our countries Primary Producers. Pretty amazing right?
Buy local, eat local, live local.
Elyse x
