Find Good Food from Local Family Farmers

The Farm Aid Festival

Each year, Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s work with family farmers and to inspire people to choose family farm food. Since 1985, Farm Aid, with the support of the artists who contribute their performances each year, has raised more than $78 million to support programs that help farmers thrive, expand the reach of the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

The resources below can help you find good food from family farms near you. You’ll also find easy-to-digest explanations to help you navigate the sometimes-complex world of food labels and learn more about how you can be part of the Good Food Movement.

Good Food Resources

Eat Well Guide

The Eat Well Guide is a free online directory of family farms, restaurants, markets and other outlets of fresh, locally-grown food throughout the United States and Canada.

Local Harvest

Search for farmers markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area, where you can buy produce, grass-fed meats, and many other goodies. If you can’t find what you’re looking for close to home, check out their catalog to order good food online.

USDA Farmers Market Search

Search USDA’s national directory for farmers markets by state and city.

American Indian Foods

American Indian Foods is a national directory of Native American-produced food, put together by the Intertribal Agriculture Council. American Indian Foods come from coast to coast in the US and are grown on the pristine lands of Native American Nations or raised in their natural waters. Many of these products are still harvested in ways defined hundreds of years ago.

Farm Aid’s Food Labeling Page

How do you know you’ve found good food? Several different food labels contain information about how food was grown or processed. Be sure you know which ones to look for.

Farm Aid’s List of Winter Farmers Markets

Think farm fresh produce is only a seasonal joy? There are more than 1,225 winter and year-round farmers markets. Look through and help add to our list.

Places to Get Good Food

Farmers Markets

Farmers markets sell fresh, local foods at very competitive prices. Buying food directly from family farmers means that your food dollar stays in your local community—bolstering other independent businesses and the local economy.

CSAs

Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs allow you to buy a “share” of a local farm’s harvest. Shareholders typically pay in advance and receive weekly packages of seasonal fruits and vegetables throughout the entire growing and harvest season. CSAs are a great way to feed your family healthy fruits and vegetables or a great option for a group of friends or neighbors to split the cost—and bounty—of the harvest.

U-pick/Pick-Your-Own farms

U-pick and Pick-Your-Own farms allow you to pick your own fruits and vegetables right on the farm, usually for a set price by weight or volume.

Farm Stands

Farm stands are roadside stands where you can buy produce directly from farmers. Some farm stands also sell meats, baked goods and processed foods. Large farm stands can resemble stores and do not always sell local goods—check the labels or ask if you aren’t sure.

Farm to School Programs

Farm to school programs (and their counterparts: farm to college, farm to workplace, farm to hospital and other farm to institution programs) connect students, faculty, employees, patients, patrons and other individuals with local farms, sourcing local products and serving healthy meals that boost nutrition and expand opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to connect with their farmers.