By Sylvia Light for Earth & Climate Ministry

Looking for ways to get fresher, healthier food on your table? UUCWC’s Earth & Climate Ministry has compiled a list of local farms, markets, and orchards offering a bounty of responsibly grown vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, and other specialties. Their products are fresher than flown-in and long-haul imports, preserving more nutrients and flavor.

Organized by state (NJ and PA), the list includes addresses, operating hours, and contact numbers.

Shopping at these local outlets not only benefits you but also supports sustainable farming practices. Many local farmers limit or avoid pesticides, herbicides, and preservatives. Buying local also reduces pollution by cutting the fossil fuel use for long-distance food transport and refrigeration. Farms using sustainable practices can also maintain the health and productivity of our community farmland for future generations.

Some farms offer a partnership system in which consumers buy a seasonal “share” of a farm’s harvest in advance to receive weekly boxes of fresh, local produce. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) helps farmers with planning and cash flow, provides members with great seasonal produce and a deeper connection to the people who grow their food, and strengthens the local food economy.

Encouraging the purchase of local farm and orchard products is an educational/advocacy project of the UUCWC Earth & Climate Ministry (ECM). During the church’s 2025 congregational Climate Justice Dialogues, we suggested enhancing congregants’ awareness of the availability and value of local farm products.

See the new list. To learn more or to provide updates to the list, contact EarthMinistry@UUCWC.org.

Photo by Barbara Drew.