I just returned from the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) annual conference, where I froze my patootie off in Chicago, but got to eat well in the process. I attended a seminar on local foods and how to promote them, and learned about the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign. It was started by FoodRoutes Network to help consumers determine how they can find local foods and why they should look for them.

We here at sacatomato are firm believers in eating locally when you can (we're not above drinking a good French wine or salivating over an aged Dutch gouda cheese), so for produce especially, we try to patronize our abundant farmer's markets. CAFF (the Community Alliance with Family Farmers), located in Davis, partnered with FoodRoutes in 2002 to bring the Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign to California. There are now chapters all over the state, including one here in Sacramento Valley.

You can access a great online food guide to California, where you type in your zip code and the mileage from that point that you want to buy (i.e., within 50 miles) or just search by county. You'll get back a list of places that sell or carry local food--whether they be farmer's markets, restaurants, bed & breakfast inns, or caterers. Then you can contact them directly to do your local part.

Think of it as supporting your neighbors. If they can't make a living, then you're stuck with fewer choices and food that comes from farther away in larger quantities. And if you need convincing, just ask a farmer for a taste of their best fruit or vegetable, fresh from the picking. You won't need any more evidence than that.