About

Helping Charlotte find fresh, local food.

Fresh = best. At least that's how I like to think about my food. If you know your farmer, chances are you'll know where your food came from and how it was grown, raised and processed.

Books like Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals and Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life are on my mind. Scenes from the movie "Food, Inc." and episodes of "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" keep me awake at night.

There's a movement stirring in my hometown of Charlotte, NC. A lot of farmers, foodies, activists and concerned citizens are coming together to make good things happen with the food we eat.

We're trying to eat a fresher, more healthy diet full of produce - some self-grown, some locally grown.
We're educating ourselves about what goes into our food systems and where our food comes from.
We're showing a growing appreciation for the food itself, the effort it takes to produce it and a love for heirloom varieties.
We're supporting our local farmers' markets, farmers, independent businesses and our local economy.

I'm doing my part to support this movement toward local, sustainable agriculture by getting the word out on fresh, local food resources in the Charlotte area. Won't you support your local farmers' markets, farmers and local food suppliers today?

FAQ:

Q: Why develop a new website? I liked the original blog as it was.
A: Creative inspiration came to me in the middle of the night during a battle with insomnia. (Yes, it's true.) But, seriously, the website format allows CF to keep information more organized and updated without having too much clutter on the pages. And it allows for more pictures. The blog and the website go hand-in-hand, and each can be accessed from the other with a simple click. The site is a nice (I hope) addition to the blog, the emails and to Facebook.

Q: Why doesn't Charlotte Fresh reveal who she is?
A: CF wishes to protect her family and friends' privacy, and it's fun for now to keep people guessing!

Q: Who takes the pictures on your site and what equipment do you use?
A: Hubby and CF both take the pics, unless otherwise credited to farmers. We don't have fancy equipment. Hubby usually uses a Pentax K20 DSLR or various vintage kit where he develops the mostly black-and-white film himself. CF uses a Panasonic Lumix 8x optical zoom point-and-shoot that fits in her pocket, useful for stealth shots in restaurants and quick shots during random finds.

Q: Are you compensated for the website or the blog?
A: Nope, that's not the mission. CF just likes to get the word out and support her farmer, market manager and chef friends. Maybe some day I'll look into it, but no such plans in the near future. Such things can complicate life, and I like to keep to my own tune and schedule.

Q: How do you learn about the farms, markets, events and other resources for your posts?
A: CF talks to a lot of local farmers, market managers and chefs. I keep tabs on the local food world through my connections, affiliations and online resources. And I get help sometimes from readers like you! (Hint, hint.)