Support Your Local Food System During This Holiday Season

11/06/20

Did you know that by purchasing locally sourced and in-season produce you keep organic waste out of the landfill and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)?

There are several benefits from purchasing your food from a locally sourced food system, including supporting local farmers, having access to fresh produce, preserving diversity, and reducing your carbon footprint.

The average Californian produces 4.7 pounds of waste per day. About 40 percent of this waste is organic materials. Within the unincorporated county, the solid waste sector contributes 11% of total community-generated GHG emissions. As part of implementing the 2018 Climate Action Plan (2018 CAP), the County is planning to divert 80% of waste from landfills by 2030 through increased recycling, composting, and education efforts.

Agriculture also contributes five percent of the total community-generated GHG emissions in the County’s unincorporated areas. Sources of GHG emissions include livestock, application of fertilizer, and the use of petroleum or diesel-powered equipment. The County’s 2018 CAP supports efforts that promote locally grown food and sustainable agricultural practices to conserve water, build soil health, and moderate soil temperature during extreme heat days, and achieve continued GHG reductions.

Support San Diego farms

There are over 6,000 farms in San Diego County each offering a variety of fresh produce year-round. The Farm Bureau of San Diego County has created a Harvest Calendar that can help you find out the seasonal crop harvest by month. Eating seasonally reduces the demand for out-of-season produce, which in turn helps support local farmers that are producing more nutritious, less resource intense and less expensive produce.

Seasonally and locally available San Diego County fruits and vegetables available in November and December

  • Apples
  • Avocados
  • Basil
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Carrots
  • Chard
  • Green Beans
  • Persimmons
  • Pumpkin
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Squash
  • Sweet Potatoes
Locally Grown Produce Sign

Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative framework and vision

Components of the Food System

The Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative supports the County’s Live Well San Diego vision of a region that is building better health, living safely, and thriving. The Food System Initiative does so by increasing access to healthy and affordable food, supporting the local economy and food supply chain, and protecting our natural resources through supporting small-scale farmers and sustainable farming practices. It also promotes food donation and works with partner organizations to improve the food donation network in the region.

Get involved

Find weekly updates to farmers’ market information as well as information on ways to subscribe to a weekly CSA box by visiting the Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative website.

The Live Well San Diego Food System Initiative is collaborating with the San Diego Food System Alliance and community stakeholders to create Food Vision 2030. The vision is a 10-year plan and movement dedicated to cultivating a healthier, more sustainable, and more just food system in our region. Take a short survey and provide input on the strategies that are most important to you!

Take the survey here: Food Vision 2030 Survey