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Buy Local Monterey
When you shop at locally-owned stores, more of your dollars recirculate within the community through taxes, employment, and philanthropic support for local groups. The City of Monterey has some very unique and enticing shopping districts for tourists and locals alike - everything you need is right at your doorstep.
Every dollar spent in Monterey helps sustain the economic vitality of our community by supporting:
The City’s Finance Department estimates that if people just spent 10% of what they purchase outside of Monterey or online – at local stores in Monterey – that 10% (ten cents on each dollar) would create $500,000 dollars in revenue for the City’s General Fund. That’s a half million dollars worth of support for City programs, from Whispering Pines Day camp to senior activities and street re-surfacing…for a 10% change in where you choose to spend your money.
Shopping locally also is good for our environment. Less time spent in our cars helps reduce our carbon footprint and means more time enjoying our beautiful city. Buying local also often eliminates costs of high transportation fees.
People throughout the country are rediscovering the benefits of buying local. Food can be fresher and tastier because of when it was picked and how it was grown. Buying local also means you are supporting local economies.
Helps Local Economies - In most communities today food is purchased entirely at a grocery store or market, with only about 7% of local food dollars staying in the community. The other 93% of the modern food dollar travels to pay processors, packagers, distributors, wholesalers, truckers, and fuel, to name a few that a global food system demands. Buying direct from a farmer sends 90% of those food dollars back to the farm. Increasing farm income means more money can be spent locally by the farmer to run their business and home, helping keep the local economy flourishing.
The Food is Healthier - Vegetables are harvested closer to their maturity which adds to their flavor and increased nutritional value.
It's Educational - Frequenting local markets allow you to be more aware of food seasons, where foods are grown and how to use and enjoy foods you may have never seen or attempted to experiment with in a traditional supermarket.
Reduces Food Miles - In the U.S., the average grocery store's produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator.
Saves Natural Resources - When food is transported across countries, hauled in freighter ships over oceans, and flown around the world. A tremendous amount of fossil fuel is burned to transport foods such long distances, releasing carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and other pollutants that contribute to global climate change, acid rain, smog and air and sea pollution. The refrigeration required to keep our fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats from spoiling during their long journeys burn up even more fossil fuel.
Farmers' Markets are the best venue to buy direct from the growers at some of the best prices. Farmer's Markets are also a great place to socialize, browse local crafts, eat a snack or meal, and bring your reusable bags.
These markets are a great way to support your local community as well as local farmers. Farmer's who sell direct to the public without utilizing a middle man get a much better price which they can turn and put back into the farming operation.
MONTEREY Old Monterey Marketplace Tuesdays – 3pm - 7pm winter hours, 4pm to 8pm summer hours on Alvarado Street, Downtown Monterey. (all year) oldmonterey.org Fridays – 10am - 2pm at MPC Monterey Peninsula College Parking Lot near Fremont Street (all year). montereybayfarmers.org/
CARMEL Tuesdays – 11am - 3pm Barnyard (May through October) Sundays – 10am - 2pm Everyone's Harvest 215 Reservation Rd. everyonesharvest.org/
PACIFIC GROVE Mondays – 4pm to 8pm, Lighthouse Avenue between Forest Ave & 17th
SALINAS Saturdays – 8am – 2pm, Main at Central (May through November) oldtownsalinas.com Sunday – 8am to 12 noon, Northridge Mall (all year)
BIG SUR Sundays – Loma Vista
Many CSA subscribers happily report that their families eat healthier, more varied diets. And they find that the produce is fresher and tastier. To learn more about organic foods, please visit the California Certified Organic Farmers site.
Interested in joining a local CSA? Here's a listing of programs supporting the Monterey-Salinas Area:
The City offers free parking for residents showing licenses with 939... zip codes at the following locations: Waterfront Lot - (off Washington enter behind Urgent Care), first two hours free parking (for access to Fisherman's Wharf business District) Cannery Row Garage, after 4pm free for locals (for access to Cannery Row) - after 4pm free for locals
Old Fisherman's Wharf
North Fremont District