The Virginia Food System Council and its participating organizations would like to encourage you to take the $10 a week challenge to grow Virginia’s economy. The challenge is one way to bolster local markets for Virginia farmers and increase opportunities for households and communities to know their farmer and where their food comes from. Come on Virginia and take the pledge to Eat Local Buy Local!
In taking the challenge, be creative, have fun and share your ideas on how to spend $10 a week with friends and neighbors! Fresh strawberries are available and in high demand right now, along with lettuce, greens, onions, turnips, cucumbers, and tomatoes, but many other Virginia Grown foods are also available throughout the year.
Here are a few possible ways to spend $10 a week.
- Buy local veggies, eggs, cheeses, chicken, meat, milk, herbs, or fish, from a farmers market, farm stand, or orchard, or from specially labeled local and Virginia Grown sections in your local grocery or supermarket.
- In restaurants, ask for a locally-sourced beverage: local wine, cider, milk, beer, kefir, etc.
- Choose restaurants that feature locally-grown food items.
- Join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm, and enjoy a delivery of locally-grown foods each week.
- Seek out an online ordering system for locally-grown or produced foods.
- Order Virginia Grown items for office lunches, parties, and conferences.
- Purchase locally-grown food products for holiday gifts and entertaining. (Apples, pears, syrup, jams, honeys, cheeses, peanuts, salsas, etc.)
- Buy local milk or cream for your daily coffees, and look for local teas that include locally-grown herbs and fruit.
Please let us know about your experience with taking the $10 a Week Challenge and enjoying Virginia’s food and agriculture.
If you are interested in the direct economic impact this small conscious decision could have for your city or county, please refer to Appendix F on page 63 of the Virginia Farm to Table Plan.