Stretching Your Local Food Dollars

Practice stretching your local food dollars with these tips and tricks:

• Shop in season - Take advantage of the best price (and flavor) as items become available in season at your grocery store and farmers markets.
• Preservation - Grab an extra bag or two of your favorite produce and preserve, dehydrate or freeze foods so you can enjoy local year round (info at https://extension.oregonstate.edu/deschutes).
• Get happy! - Find happy hour or locals night specials offered at HDFFA featured restaurants and breweries.
• Plan ahead - Meal planning can help ensure you only purchase what you need, eliminate food waste, and save time later in the week when hunger hits.
• Stay flexible - Substitute ingredients when you can to take advantage of what's on sale.
• Bulk buys - Check out the bulk bins for low priced pantry staples and attend Fill Your Pantry this fall to stock up on storage crops at a great price.
• Buy a half or quarter cow or pig and save dollars off the pound, consider splitting it with a friend or divvying up with your family
• Go straight to the source - Connect with your local farmers and ranchers to buy in bulk directly from them. Search our online directory here!
• Use HDFFA coupons found on our website here.

Additional food access resources:Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)www.oregon.gov/dhs/assistance/food-benefits/. Women Infants and Children (WIC) locations and resources can be found by calling 211 or at www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/HEALTHYPEOPLEFAMILIES/WIC/. Central Oregon food pantrieswww.neighborimpact.org/get-help/get-food/. Fill Your Pantry (bulk buying event)www.centraloregonfillyourpantry.com