Have a farm-to-fork Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, bringing a large variety of delicious food to the table and a great opportunity to exercise environmental stewardship by buying locally grown food.


Buying locally grown food ensures the best food quality, supports the local economy and sustains a healthy environment. In Seattle, a number of farmer's markets full of locally grown food stay open through the holiday season, including the Broadway Sunday Farmer's Market, U-District Saturday Farmer's Market, West Seattle Sunday Farmer's Market, Pike Place Market and the Ballard Sunday Farmer's Market.


While farmer's markets are one option for buying locally, they aren't the only option.


Another great place to do this is at Madison Market, located right off East Madison Street on 16th Avenue. Madison Market not only supports local farmers; it uses a simple-to-follow labeling system that allows the customer to choose products by proximity, whether it's food farmed within 100 miles, food farmed in Washington state and food farmed in the greater Northwest.


Everything needed for a traditional or non-traditional Thanksgiving meal can be found in at least one of these places. Homegrown turkeys can be bought from Madison Market or at the West Seattle Farmer's Market but should be pre-ordered due to high demand. A variety of lush, bright red organic apples can be found at the markets, along with other in-season produce like crisp green celery, ripe cranberries and organic sweet potatoes. Many of the farmer's markets offer home-baked pumpkin and pecan pies, and Madison Market offers four-inch personal pies baked in Renton for less than $5.


According to Caple Melton, Madison Market's marketing and educational outreach worker, Madison Market also sells pre-made dishes provided by local farmers, a large selection of local dairy producers and a unique meat substitute produced by Field Roast on Jackson Street.

Melton, however, recommends the Broadway Farmer's Market.


"You're able to connect directly with local farmers, which is the best option," Melton said.

Thanksgiving is an especially good time to try eating locally because of the focus on creating the perfect meal.


"As we give thanks to those folks we choose, we can also give thanks to the local farmers," Melton said.


Hilary Hawley, a Seattle University professor who has taught a college writing course on sustainable eating, explained the importance and benefits of eating locally.


"The ability to come face-to-face with the people producing your food […] means that you are better informed about how your food is grown," Hawley said. "You can find out whether the farmer grows conventionally, naturally or organically, including information about pesticide use."