Did you know there are close to 4-million small businesses in California alone? Shopping small is near and dear to us. Our family started farming and selling produce at the Davis Farmers Market in the 1970s. In 1992, our mother, Kathleen Barsotti, started Farm Fresh To You, our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farm Box program. Our organic produce delivery service began with a handful of customers and boxes being delivered in our grandparent’s Buick. It was crazy and wonderful to see more and more boxes leave our farm each week. As we enter the season of giving, we encourage you to shop small, too.
Here are a few tips for shopping small this season:
- Shop your local farmers markets. Of course you'll find locally-grown produce, but you're also likely to find small batch preserves, honey, flowers and baked goods that make wonderful gifts.
- Select locally-owned brick and mortar merchants who sell goods from other small businesses.
- Shop craft fairs and boutiques held by local non-profits or schools.
- Add farm products to your delivery when you customize your Farm Fresh To You box. You'll be supporting not only our family farm, but other small businesses, too!
- Plan ahead—remember that handmade products may take a little longer to arrive, but it will be totally worth the wait!
In celebration of the small businesses that play such a huge role in our economy, we are pleased to partner with modern folk artist and small business owner, Lisa Young of LKLY Designs, for a holiday giveaway! Lisa produces intricately woven, hand-made baskets from natural, sustainable jute and hemp fibers.
Lisa's fascination with basket weaving began at a young age when visiting a family friend where she noticed a row of miniature pine needle coiled baskets on display. She knew how to coil a basket by the next day! She has been honing her craft for nearly 40 years and has been teaching art and crafts to children and adults for over twenty five years, with a focus on basket making for the past seven.
Today, Lisa's aesthetics in her basketry are informed and influenced by her studies in non-western modern art, folk culture and traditions, her travels, and upbringing in domestic arts (crochet, sewing, loom weaving).
Lisa asks you to remember that shopping local not only builds community, but—like purchasing produce with Farm Fresh To You—it lowers one's carbon footprint! Artisan made goods are also more likely to be well made and made to last (as opposed to factory made, mass manufactured products).
How to Enter our Giveaway
For a chance to win this LKLY Designs medium sized lime green basket with handles (valued at $48) and a $99 gift certificate from Farm Fresh To You, simply leave a comment below answering this question by Tuesday, December 12 (one entry per person please):Why do you like to shop small, and what has been your favorite purchase from a small business to date?
No purchase required. Gift Certificates don’t expire, are redeemable by new and current customers and are non-refundable and not redeemable for cash. Limit one entry per person, please. Entries will close on Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at 8:00 am (PST). Winner will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced on our blog on Tuesday, December 12, 2017.
THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Thank you to everyone who participated!
Our winner is Kristina who wrote:
"I like to shop small and visit the local farmers markets. The seasonal
produce keeps me in tune with the changing seasons and reminds me to
enjoy the changing weather and foods. My favorite product from a small
business is a pasta made by a lovely couple at my local Farmers market.
This couple does not have a store, they can only be found at the farmers
market. The pastas are so fresh and since they have different kinds
such as spinach or red pepper, they are colorful too!"
