100 Mile Thanksgiving Dinner for Washington, D.C. Area Residents

With a 100 mile Thanksgiving diet, everything on the table originates from sources within 100 miles. This green living option means fresher food and reduced transportation cost- the latter both financial and environmental.

Here's how you can fill your Thanksgiving table with local foods if you live in Washington, D.C. or its suburbs:

Turkey

For most diners, the Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of the meal. Maryland's Dept. of Agriculture publishes a list of turkey farms selling directly to the public. These two local farms, one in Maryland and one in Virginia, are not a far drive and sell organic turkey:

Jehovah-Jirah Farm
7033 Ed Sears Rd.
Dickerson, MD 20842
Distance: 45 miles
Offerings: turkeys, brown eggs
Growing conditions: organic feed, no antibiotics, chemical wormers, hormones, vaccines or synthetic vitamins
Online pre-ordering: yes for turkey; eggs sold in DC markets and available at the farm without pre-ordering

Ayrshire Farm
1 East Washington St.
Middleburg, VA 20117
Distance: 42 miles
Offerings: organic turkey, heirloom produce
Growing Conditions: organic, free-range, no hormones or antibiotics, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers. Certified-humane, meets Virginia's Finest program standards.
Online pre-ordering: yes

Local Markets Offering 100 Mile Diet Trimmings

While the turkey is the centerpiece of the Thanksgiving table, there's still a need for fresh baked bread, stuffing ingredients, vegetables, pies, and cider.

These grocers buy local produce whenever possible and also sell local baked goods. None specifically commit to a 100 mile radius, nor is there any guarantee that all of the produce is local during a particular visit. It pays to check the signs and talk to the produce manager when selecting your produce if you're committed to a 100 Mile Diet Thanksgiving dinner. With the farmer's markets, check farm locations on the applicable website to ensure those you choose to buy from meet the 100 mile criteria:

* Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op

* Mom's Organic Market in Alexandria, Va. and Rockville, Md.

* Bethesda Co-Op

* Arlington Farmer's Market open every Saturday 8-noon

* Takoma Park Farmer's Market open year-round on Sundays 10-2

* FRESHFARM Markets- operate at various locations in Washington DC, Silver Spring, and Bethesda.

Home-Delivered Produce, Dairy and Eggs

During the local growing season (June to November), Washington Green Grocer gets all of its produce from local sources. WGG sells organic dairy and eggs from local farms as well as fruit and produce.

WGG packages boxes of 12-14 different types of in-season fruits and vegetables and delivers them to your door. To ensure it's food you'll eat, they publish a weekly list, allowing customers to request substitutions. There are different size boxes available, and there's no commitment required.