DLJ Produce

Thanksgiving. It’s the time of year when friends and family come together to overindulge in delicious food, create memories, and celebrate the gratitude of another year gone by. However, you can combine all three of these elements to an exponential level by choosing the right food.

Though the idea may sound counterintuitive, buying local produce can make an unforgettable Thanksgiving in several ways. So skip the grocery store, avoid the crowds at Wal-Mart, and head to your local produce store for an amazing Turkey Day — in more ways than one.

Better-Tasting Thanksgiving Dinner

Whether you love mashed potatoes, bacon-wrapped asparagus, homemade cranberry sauce, or just about anything else, fresh, locally sourced produce ups the flavor profile of everything that hits your kitchen and table.

Farmers host local produce at the peak of its ripeness, which ensures that each dish you make bursts with flavor, complexity, and vibrancy. As an added bonus, fresh produce is also healthier than canned or processed alternatives and may contain more vitamins and minerals than imported food no longer at the height of ripeness.

Supporting Local Growers and Businesses

Fresh produce at the Thanksgiving dinner table can certainly create an unforgettable Thanksgiving dinner. However, your purchase goes far beyond a delicious meal.

When you buy produce from local growers, farmers, and businesses, you’re helping your community thrive and prosper. Every purchase you make goes straight into the pockets of your local grocer and supports farmers who face an uphill battle against imported and genetically modified fruits and vegetables.

Thanksgiving is all about giving back, and thanks to shopping locally, you’re doing just that.

Adding Some Variety

The staples of Thanksgiving dinner — pumpkin pie, sweet potato casserole, and others — shouldn’t be left off the table. But if you fancy yourself a bit of a culinary experimenter, local produce can take your cooking to the next level.

Autumn is a popular time of the year for many lesser-known fruits and vegetables. So, if you want to try your hand at a kale salad, fried Brussels sprouts, or even homemade apple cider, you have all the fresh ingredients you need to turn your kitchen into a Thanksgiving food laboratory.

Doing Your Part to Improve the Environment

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all of the great things in your life, but rarely does that include the environment — the very thing that brings all that delicious, fresh produce to your table.

But you can give back to the environment that’s been so good to you just by shopping for local produce. When you buy local fruits and veggies, you reduce carbon emissions from shipping, support sustainable farming practices, and encourage less usage of pesticides, herbicides, and non-organic fertilizers.

Find a Grocer Near You

One of the best things about buying local produce for an unforgettable Thanksgiving is that you can support local businesses. Many grocers with local produce are members of the community doing their best to improve the world — one onion, pumpkin, or carrot at a time.

While at the market, look for our label and taste the freshness.  Besides large supermarkets, there are a few smaller markets or hidden gems you will enjoy shopping at whether it’s for the Thanksgiving table or just another Monday night dinner.