Where to find local produce

Where does one find local lettuce, tomatoes, and…potato chips?

It wasn’t until I had a vegetable garden of my own that I really fell for fresh, locally grown food. Who knew such a simple salad of lettuce and tomatoes could taste so good?

Apparently word is out. The number of farmers markets has nearly doubled since the mid-'90s, and "locavore" is on its way to becoming a household word; it’s among 100 new words featured in the 2009 edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Even Wal-Mart, the nation’s largest grocer, has committed to carrying local produce.

And get this. Frito Lay now has a Chip Tracker that lets you find out just how far from your home their Lays potato chips were grown. But of course, if it’s farm-fresh taste you’re after, you probably won’t find it in a bag of chips.

Unless you’re already growing your own, here’s where to find the freshest produce this season:

Shop at a farmers’ market. Check for options nearby at LocalHarvest.

Pick your own. Find out where to pick your own local produce at Pick Your Own.

Check your local grocer: Many grocers feature at least some local produce, especially during the growing season.

For more reasons to go local, read With summer here, consider eating more locally grown foods.