The cost of heirloom produce and heritage meat and poultry is higher than anything grown or raised conventionally because of the smaller yields and limited seasons. Most of all, anything heirloom or heritage must be air-shipped to areas where there is a demand for them. The best bet to keeping costs low for any consumer is to buy these products at farmers markets because everything is sold locally and in season.

Going heirloom and/or heritage is not simply a gesture in the pursuit of gastronomic pleasure. It promotes agricultural diversity, biodiversity, and sustainability. So while you are out shopping for foods to make your taste buds tingle, you can also be a responsible human being.

What to Buy?

Tomatoes may be the most famous heirloom crop, but they are certainly not alone. There are heirloom potatoes, squash, apples, pears, eggplant, Brussels sprouts, and beans to name a few. The most popular heritage livestock is probably the Black turkey and is mostly raised and sold around Thanksgiving. But you can also buy various breeds of cattle, chicken, rabbit, and lamb, which are available year round at farmers markets. You can also buy them online at Web sites such as Local Harvest.

For the small farmer or home gardener, heirloom seeds can be bought for vegetables as well as herbs and flowers. Seed Savers Exchange, a non-profit, member supported organization based in Iowa dedicated to the preservation of heirloom seeds, sells over 500 varieties of vegetables.

For a complete list (as of December 2008, that is) of heirloom produce and heritage meat and poultry, check out Slow Food USA. Their list is broken down into nine regions and helps you figure out what foods you should be looking out for at your local farmers market or restaurants. Slow Food USA has compiled the list, known as the U.S. Ark of Taste, to make sure heirloom and heritage foods are still eaten and to ensure that the dual goals of biodiversity and sustainability are met on the plate.

So go heirloom. Go heritage. Because doing so means being a responsible inhabitant of this planet. And that great taste with every delicious bite of an American plum sorbet or Randall beef rib eye steak? Consider it a consequence of your altruistic nature.

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