Food grown close to home and picked at the height of flavour and freshness is better for you, local farmers and the planet. It’s a chance to connect with your community through farmers markets and food swaps, and an opportunity to get excited about the change of seasons – from summer berries to spring asparagus, every season has something to look forward to.
Local food has a small ‘foodprint’ and countless benefits. Learn more.
Your foodprint includes all the resources it takes to get your food from the farm to your plate. It considers how much energy was used throughout this journey. It includes how the food was seeded, grown and harvested, and then processed, stored, transported and finally, prepared.
At each of these steps there are impacts on our soil, air and water, as well as on workers and wider communities. There are many ways you can reduce your foodprint.
Where can you start? Your local market, of course! Farmers markets, local grocers, farm gates and humble roadside stalls are all brimming with local goodies, grown nearby and picked while ripe.
Many independently owned grocery stores champion local producers, maintaining strong relationships with small growers.
There’s no shortage of places in and around Adelaide to find vibrant, tasty produce. Check out the Eat Drink Local directory for ideas or our list of markets (below) to find somewhere near you.
It is not always obvious how far food has travelled. That glistening orange might look like it was picked yesterday, but may have journeyed from California. When shopping at the supermarket, keep your eyes peeled for produce grown in South Australia.
Learn about reading food labels and where your food comes from.
The term ‘locavore’ was coined in 2005 when 3 friends in San Francisco challenged their community to eat foods grown within a 100-mile (161 km) radius. Since then, it has grown into an identity.
Locavores prioritise their health and supporting local farmers. They favour what’s in season and grown close-by.
Anyone can be a locavore, so why not give it a go?
The Slow Food Movement began in Italy in the 1980s in response to the ‘fast-food culture’. Now an international phenomenon, this movement celebrates where your food comes from and how it’s grown.
Slow food encourages reconnecting with diverse culinary traditions and preparing food mindfully. Join a chapter to be part of it.
Sharing and swapping produce is a great way to meet your neighbours. From Grow Free carts to food swaps and other food movements, there’s plenty on offer to share and trade your produce to make the most of what’s in season.
Check out our Share Food information for more details.
Sustain: The Australian Food Network is a national organisation enabling the emergence of a flourishing and healthy food system, realised through events, research, networking and consultancy services.
The Youth Food Movement is a national organisation offering lots of great resources, courses and education for the next generation of food leaders.
Adelaide and its surrounding regions are home to some of Australia’s best farmers’ markets, full of vibrant seasonal produce to put a smile on your face. A handy map of markets can be found online.
Next time you’re at a market, ask the stallholder how something was grown, ideas for cooking it, or what challenges they’re facing on their farm. Some farms welcome visitors and are happy to show you around. Ask market stallholders directly or check online for farm open days.
For kids, this is an especially memorable way to connect the paddocks to their plates.