You don’t have to commit 100% to eating only local products to participate in the Eat Local movement. Simply seeking out ways to trade the foods you already enjoy with locally produced alternatives can have a big impact on your environment and your local economy. Here are a few quick tips on ways you can include local products in your lifestyle.

Look at labels
When you’re making selections at the grocery store, take a look at the label. Is it made in Wisconsin? Most grocery stores carry an abundance of locally produced options—especially when it comes to dairy foods, such as milk, butter and cheese. You’ll be glad to know that Wisconsin wins more awards for its outstanding cheeses than any other state or nation. So, when you buy Wisconsin Cheese, you’re not just buying local—you’re buying the best.

Go to a local farmers market
Wisconsin ranks third in the country for total number of farmers markets with nearly 200 scattered throughout the state. Check one out. Talk to the producers. And enjoy the fresh and full flavor of seasonal produce.

Enjoy a local meal
More and more Wisconsin restaurants are featuring local products. Restaurateurs can control quality while offering diners the farm-fresh flavors of seasonal ingredients. Seek out one of these restaurants to experience what happens when culinary creativity meets local ingredients.

Cook with local options
The lively flavors of local foods can enhance your cooking. Visit the recipe section of this Web site for ideas.

Visit a local farm or cheesemaker
See for yourself why Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland. Visit a local dairy farm or cheesemaker and find out why there’s no place like Wisconsin to get great-tasting dairy foods. And don’t stop there. Visit a local berry farm or orchard and pick your own fresh fruit or vegetables. There’s no better way to appreciate eating locally than seeing exactly where your food comes from.

Plant a garden
It doesn’t get more local than your own backyard. Whether you grow an elaborate garden of fruits and vegetables or simply cultivate a tomato plant in a flower pot, you’ll enjoy the freshness of homegrown fruit and vegetables that didn’t have to travel a single mile to get on your plate.