July 2022
Local Has Never
Looked—Or Tasted—Better

My favorite way to savor summer is to explore and taste my way through my neighborhood farmers markets and other local food finds. Everywhere I've lived and everywhere I visit, one of the first things I do is find farm fresh and locally sourced food. Sometimes it's a farm, a cute little roadside stand, or quaint farm-to-table restaurant—I love them all. Newly harvested produce, with its deep, bright colors that seem to glow under the summer sun, gorgeous bouquets of flowers to mix and match to my heart's content, oils, nuts, and handmade jams, baked goods, pastas…these local treasures engage such a beautiful sensory response, including the sixth sense of knowing that eating, enjoying, and supporting the farmers and artisans who produce and craft these gems is good for us, for them, and for our shared community and planet.

I invite you to join me this summer as I explore local foods wherever I visit and taste something new each time. I promise, you'll be amazed at Nature's wide array of plants that make summer—and life!—so much sweeter.

My Top Tips for How You Can Go Local and Love It!

Find a Farmers Market. Visit your neighborhood farmers market for locally grown, freshly harvested produce, nuts and legumes, whole grains, fungi, and handcrafted specialties from preserves to hummus.
Say Yes to Seasonal. Choose summer fruits and vegetables, as seasonal produce is at its best in every way: flavor, sustainability, cost, nutrition.
Try a CSA—Community Supported Agriculture—box or subscription, which delivers seasonal produce from a local farm.
Plant a Garden. Start with one pot or a slice of your backyard. Tomatoes, herbs, and lettuces are so simple to grow and deliver almost instant gratification. Be warned: it's addicting! Download my home gardening toolkit here.
Look for "Local." Find signs alerting you to your community's local foods and products in the supermarket, local shops, and restaurants. Support these local businesses.
Cook Farm-Fresh Foods. Turn to my blog every day this month, where I'll be sharing my favorite seasonal, local foods!

With Gratitude,

It's Good to Go Local.
Eating local is good in so many ways, from our health, to the economy, to the planet. Read how in these 5 Benefits for Eating Local.

Farmers Market Finds.
Whether you know your market well or are a first-timer, it can be a lot to take in. I've lined up the ins and outs I've learned from my years of experience in Make the Most of Your Farmers Market.

I'm Talking Brain Health for this Eskaton Webinar.
I discuss the power of foods to help keep your brain healthy, and cook up my favorite brain-healthy recipes live from my kitchen here.

I Dispel Nightshade Myths in Forks Over Knives.
Wary of nightshades? I discuss why these nutritious staples have sustained healthy diets for centuries, here.

I'm Giving the Scoop on Coffee Alternatives in HuffPost.
Does caffeine make you jittery? Try these options instead, from caffeine-free beverages to some that just pack less of a punch.

Instagram Plant-Powered
Live Show
This month I'm talking about how to prepare delicious one-dish plant-based meals, and I'll be cooking up my fabulous Edamame Masala Bowl. Join me on my Plant-Powered Live Cooking Show on Instagram July 14 at 3 pm PT @SharonPalmerRD and cook along with me! Get the recipe here.

California Vegan is Live!
I'm so excited to announce that my latest book, California Vegan, is getting lots of positive buzz and is available across the nation: Amazon, Apple, and my site. Get yours today!

Grow Your Own Food Toolkit
It's the perfect time to grow your own food this month, so dig in with my FREE home gardening toolkit here.

About Sharon
Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RD is The Plant-Powered Dietitian. She is an award-winning food and nutrition journalist based in Ojai, California. Sharon speaks, writes, and blogs about her passion for delicious, healthful, sustainable plant-based foods every day. Check out her three books, and don't forget to follow Sharon on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, and her blog. If you'd like to work with Sharon, please contact her here.