You might not feed as many people as a Kansas farmer this year -- although preparing Thanksgiving dinner may feel like you're cooking for 129 people -- but you can feature some of what they grow on your dinner table.
The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition has launched a campaign and corresponding Web site, Eat Local for the Holidays, which has a list of farmer's markets, local vendors and a guide to what's in season.
"We are fortunate have a vibrant agricultural community here in Kansas City." said Beth Low, director of the Food Policy Coalition, "We are asking people to make a small step this holiday season by adding just one local food item to their holiday table."
While the site is not complete -- it lists wine and cider as the only beverages in season and I've got a few stouts and winter brews in my fridge that make a strong case for inclusion -- it's a good jumping off point for finding out where to buy locally produced products and the farmer's market guide is particularly helpful. Bad Seed Farm runs its winter market between 4 and 8 p.m. every Friday through February 25, beginning this Friday. KC Organics will be running The Indoor Holiday Market on Saturday, December 11, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Notre Dame de Sion High School (106th and Wornall).
Perhaps, the challenge is in figuring out which one local food item deserves to be highlighted. I'll be bringing a bag of Farm to Market pretzel rolls out to the East Coast this year. If you had to introduce your relatives to one local product what would it be?
