Pick your own (PYO) farms have been around for ages, but have been gaining popularity over the years due to the desire to cut down on our carbon footprints and buy produce locally, which also supports the farms. The most common produce to pick yourself during summer are strawberries and blueberries, but there are also community supported agriculture farms (known as CSA farms) where you can either pick your own or have freshly-harvested produce ready for you to pick up at the farm. Some even offer delivery services.

Going to a PYO farm for fresh produce is not only a great way to support your local farms—it’s also a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy doing! By going to local farms and community gardens, your children learn that the food on their plate doesn’t just come “from the grocery store.” In addition, studies have shown that children typically are more likely to eat healthier foods when they grow and/or pick their own produce.

And picking your own produce isn’t just limited to the summer season, either. In the autumn season, you can go apple and pumpkin picking, too! You can go online and do a little research to find out where the local PYO farms are. If possible, try to find farms that offer organic produce. For information on where you can find organic produce, as well as CSA farms near you, check out http://www.localharvest.org/.