Though the leaves will soon turn hues of red, it seems America has never been greener. Composting, recycling, conserving and renewing, nothing has been left untouched. What?s Dayton?s latest contribution to the green fad? Consuming local foods, on campus and off.

Buying Locally on Campus

About 50 consumers have already jumped on UD?s green bandwagon and ordered their $10 biodegradable bags of local food from the UD Local Foods club. Each Monday holds a surprise from Yankee Street Farm Market in Centerville, be it red potatoes, stalks of corn, plums, peaches or more. Sept. 6 is the last day to order the bags from udlocalfoods@gmail.com for pick-up. After that, the club will sell organic eggs, meats and cheeses from a local farmer.

Dining Services? wholesaler has purchased Ohio grown produce for years, according to Jim Froehlich, assistant director of systems and marketing. They recently marketed it when students asked for more information about the purchases. A full list of locally grown foods in the cafeterias can be found on dining.udayton.edu.

Buying Locally off Campus

Dayton?s year-round local food market National City 2nd Street Market is less than 10 minutes from campus at 200 E. Second St. local growers, bakers, artists and performers set up shop Thurs. to Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sat. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Meijer has purchased local food since 1934 and continues this practice in Dayton with Michael Farms in Urbana, Ohio, according to a recent advertisement. Family owned and operated, Michael Farms has supplied Meijer for 16 years with cabbage, green beans, sweet corn and potatoes. Look for the ?From Family Farm to Family Store? logo next time you?re at Meijer, 4075 Wilmington Pike, Kettering.

September is the last month Dorothy Lane Market will have their Eat Local Challenge, ending with a contest to create a meal out of all local foods. Pick up an entry form from any DLM or from their Web site, www.dorothylane.com. Stop in DLM, 2710 Far Hills, year-round for locally grown cheese, berries and vegetables. There?s even a local wine selection from Kinkhead Ridge Winery in Ripley, Ohio.

Now, even a trip to a restaurant let?s you go green. Local-buyers include Jay?s Seafood, 225 E. 5th St., Dayton; Therapy Caf?, 425 E. Third St., Dayton; and Young?s Jersey Dairy, 6880 St. Rt. 68, Yellow Springs.

Spreading the Word

UD Local Foods club is in its first year and is hoping to carry out three goals by integrating local and smart food choices into college students? lifestyles.

?We realize a lot of times it?s more expensive to eat healthy,? said Kimber Lucius, president of Local Foods. ?We?re trying to teach people how to make healthy and informed eating decisions.?

Their other two goals are to raise awareness on UD?s campus about sustainable food choices and help students carry them out by supplying them with organically and local grown foods. Lucius said students can visit www.localharvest.org to get more information about ?eating locally? in Dayton.

The club meets every other Tues. at 7:30 p.m. in the basement of Liberty Hall. Join in the discussion for a taste of something new.