Here at aHa! Modern Living, we have always loved Labor Day. Not only is it the symbolic end of summer, making it the harbinger of cooler fall temps, but more importantly it is also a holiday that celebrates the average working Joe, and the economic and social achievements of all American workers. The first Labor Day was recognized as a federal holiday in 1882, and today it’s an official state holiday in all 50 states. So for all of us who work the 9-5 grind every day, make sure you remember that this day, Labor Day, is a holiday about and for you!

This year for Labor Day, we want to celebrate the achievements of workers in our own neighborhood. We’re hosting a Local Labor Day party, and we’ve asked all of our guests to bring a food dish or beverage that has been produced or grown within a 100 mile radius from home. We encourage you to host your own Local Labor Day party and enjoy fresh goodies that have been provided by hard workers in your own region. Not sure where to start? Take a look at this guide to learn how to find food and drinks that are local to you.

• Connecticut- Check out the City Seed website, where you can locate and map 5 different Farmers’ Markets. Each one operates throughout the fall- the market in Wooster Square even runs through December, which means you can use it to host a local Thanksgiving, too!
• Maine- Wood Prairie Farm in Bridgewater, Maine, is getting ready to harvest its potatoes in September. Sign up for the Potato Sampler of the month, and you can have an 8-pound box of potatoes sent right to you each month. Each box includes 3 different delicious and distinctive varieties of potatoes.
• Massachusetts- Hilltop Orchards has expanded hours through October, so this is a great time to visit. Here you can pick your own apples, plums, and pears, as well as purchase locally made wines and hard ciders.

Midwest Region

• Minnesota- The Wedge Natural Foods Co-Op in Minneapolis is a terrific source for local foods. Right now, they have a great selection of seasonal local produce, including locally grown heirloom eggplants and tomatoes.
• Illinois- If you live in Chicago, then lucky you. Since you are in the largest city in the Midwest, you have lots of options for local eating. Visit The Beet, which is a great guide to eating local. You can also enter your zip code in the upper right corner to find a Farmers’ Market near you. This is a good time to find local apples, pears, beans, cabbage, eggplant, squash, and sweet potatoes.
• Nebraska- The Historical Haymarket Farmers’ Market in Lincoln features over 200 different vendors, and takes place every Saturday from 8 am til noon. In addition to local produce, this is an awesome place to find all sorts of baked goodies, such as muffins, croissants, pies, cookies, cakes, and baklava. Yum!

Southern Region

• Alabama, Georgia, and North Florida- Boutwell Farms is an USDA certified organic family farm that specializes in grass-fed beef and pork. You can pick up meat directly from their farm, or purchase it at a local Farmers’ Market that they supply.
• North Carolina- Check out Eat Local NC. It is an excellent guide to North Carolina’s Farmers’ Markets and local farms. You can also check out this guide to local produce, meat, and dairy farms in the Triad area. There’s even an ostrich farm in Winston Salem! Ever tried ostrich meat before?

New York- (Let’s face it, it’s a region of its own)

• The New York Metro Area Wheel shows what’s in season and local within a 150-mile radius of New York City. You can purchase your wheel for just $12.95.
• New York has a terrific selection of wineries, so make sure you check out your options for local wines. We recommend Warwick Valley Winery, where you can select from a variety of hard ciders and wines. This time of year, you can also pick your own apples and pears.
• The Local Fork is the locavore’s guide to dining and shopping in New York City. It will assist you in finding local produce, grains, dairy, nuts and seeds, poultry, and more. For a really special treat, get your hands on some local maple syrup or honey. Berkshire Berries makes honey from hives on NY City rooftops. How cool is that?

Central Region

• Colorado- Boulder county is hosting Eat Local week from August 28 to September 4. How appropriate- that’s just a couple days before the Labor Day holiday! Eat Local week is a perfect opportunity to discover local food sources and meet local food growers. Take a look at the website for a list of the week’s events.
• Kansas- Check out the Kansas City Food Circlefor a list of local Farmers’ Markets, where at this time of year you can purchase locally grown beets, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, carrots, pears, spinach, and much more.

West Coast Region

• California- Locavorism began in San Francisco, so if you live in this region, you are at the heart of the movement to eat local! Visit this website for a guide to local Farmers’ Markets and wineries. One particularly awesome thing about eating locally in San Fran is that you can get your hands on local seafood, such as anchovies, black cod, oysters, salmon, and squid.
• Oregon- The Ten Rivers Food Web is a wonderful guide to the area’s local co-ops, farms, Farmers’ Markets, and other local food groups. Make sure to visit the comprehensive local food directory.
• Hawaii- About 90% of the food that is available in Hawaii has been imported from the mainland. So, eating locally can prove to be a bit of a challenge here. It’s not impossible, though, as author Debbie documents here in her Eat Local Challenge blog. On the bright side, Hawaii’s climate means that you can get your hands on local bananas, papayas, and other tropical fruits pretty much at any time. You can visit this website, Eat Local Hawaii, for a list of good local markets to visit.

If we didn’t cover your home state here, try out some of the great national resources that are available to you. At the Local Harvest website, you can type in your zip code as well as the product you are looking for. You can also visit the USDA website for a listing of Farmers’ Markets near you. Have fun with your Local Labor Day bash, and enjoy the fruits of local labor!