DOVER, Pa. — Central Pennsylvania residents are lucky in the fact that we are surrounded by agriculture and farms that help sustain us and the country. And while we live by so many of these farms, it’s important to make sure we’re buying and eating directly from them as well.
Brittany Reardon and her husband own Mad Radish Farm in Dover, York County. Reardon says it was always her dream to own a farm and share her passion of sustainable farming and eating with her community.
“I wanted to be a part of changing that for a lot of people and really getting back to growing food locally and producing food for our local community,” she said.
Mad Radish Farm specializes in salad greens like lettuce and spinach. They also have chickens that provide eggs and a variety of other vegetables growing on the property.
One of the ways that Reardon is able to directly sell this locally grown food to neighbors is through a CSA, or a Community Supported Agriculture program.
“It’s a subscription,” Reardon told FOX43. “But it helps the farmer to be able to get the things they need at the beginning of the season when they don’t have as much income coming into the farm. And so people sign up to support that farm for the whole year, and in turn, they get the harvest.”
For those who aren’t able to buy into the CSA, Mad Radish Farm connects with neighbors at farmers markets across the area, including York Central Market.
You can find a variety of local foods on full display at the market, from fresh produce to hoagies and even sweet treats.
“Everything is, I buy local. If possible I buy from the market, all my produce, all my berries, flour, eggs,” said Linnea Vega, owner of Cakes by Lee.
It’s a similar sentiment from Kimber Sutton, co-owner of Henry’s Ham. Plus, she says local foods taste better too.
“One hundred percent better. I won’t use anything other than local produce,” Sutton says. “My goal is I give back to other small businesses that are trying to succeed just like I am.”
Another bonus of buying local is it keeps transportation costs down and your money stays closer to home.
“Not just are you supporting the farmer doing these environmental methods, organic methods, that sort of thing, but you’re also supporting them economically and then you’re supporting your community in that way, which is essential for sustainability,” says Reardon.
Reardon encourages everyone to get involved with their local farmers markets to help create this sustainable environment in their communities. Not only will you be eating local foods and boosting your local economy, but it can be a fun trip to teach kids about these practices as well.
If you live outside of the York area, there are multiple other Community Supported Agriculture opportunities for people to get involved in. You can find a list of some of them here.