Eating local food in Oklahoma is tougher without the Oklahoma Food Cooperative but is still possible. The state has so much delicious food to offer.
Last year the Oklahoma Food Cooperative announced it was closing. This was very sad news for those wanting to eat locally in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Food Cooperative was a staple in Oklahoma. It was started in 2003 and gave Oklahomans all over the state access to over 100 local producers.
Losing this source of local food is heartbreaking for many Oklahomans, especially those in food deserts. It’s also been tough for many local producers who counted on the Oklahoma Food Cooperative to sell their products around the state.
We want to help you find new resources for local food here in Oklahoma. These are some of the ways we suggest finding local food here in the state.
How to Eat Local in Oklahoma
Visit Your Local Farmers Market
We have farmers markets all over the state, even many of the small rural towns have farmers markets part of the year. If you aren’t sure if your city has one Shape Your Future has a great farmers market locator tool to help you find one.
You can also visit the larger farmers markets in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They often have an even bigger selection and are worth the occasional trip.
Connect with Local Farmers
Many producers deliver all over the state. Currently, the Oklahoma Food Cooperation still has its producer list up. This is a good place to start looking for producers near you. Many have websites or other contact information so you can find out if they are delivering anywhere or where they are currently selling.
We aren’t sure how long this list will be up, so be sure to look soon and collect the information you need.
Sign Up for a CSA
Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) is another great way to support local farmers and get great locally produced food. Many farms around the state offer this service.
LocalHarvest has a great CSA search tool to help you find one near you.
Additional Resource: Support Local Farmers, Join a CSA
Shop Your Local Grocery Store
Many local grocery stores, even some chains, offer local products. If you aren’t sure if your store does be sure to ask. They can point you in the right direction if they do and if not you can let them know you’d like for them to start.
The Made in Oklahoma Program can also help you find locally produced food as well as other locally made products.
Start Your Own Garden
It doesn’t get much more local than your own backyard. Growing your own food can save you money, improve your health, and is great for the environment.
We have a lot of great resources on our site to help you get started and also have found a few others we think are helpful.
- The Best Gardening Tips
- How to Prepare Your Garden for Spring
- Gardening With Kids, Why It’s Important
- 7 Frugal Gardening Tips for Beginners
- Four Tips for Planning Your Best Garden Yet + Free Planning Worksheets
- Seed Starting Planner for Any Zone
With all of these great resources, you are sure to find a way that works for you to add more local food into your diet. The loss of the Oklahoma Food Cooperative is very sad but is no reason to stop eating local food.
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