We Define “Local” as the
Sacramento Watershed
Supporting local producers is central to BriarPatch’s vision. It reflects the values we live every day: expanding access to high-quality food, strengthening our regional food economy, and caring for the place we call home.
At the same time, we don’t want to get stuck in the minutiae of what “local” should mean. The real purpose of defining local is simple: to highlight where our food comes from and how our purchases impact the people, land and water that sustain us.
That’s why we define local through a natural system we all share: the Sacramento Watershed.
Watershed Wednesdays in 2026
In 2026, we’re celebrating 50 years of partnership with local producers through Watershed Wednesday sales—held every third Wednesday of the month.
On Watershed Wednesdays, all locally grown or produced items are 20% off.
This sale is for everyone—BriarPatch Owners and non-owner shoppers alike.
Cheers to Local!
Why a Watershed?
A watershed gives us a definition of local that is nature-based, not political, shaped by land and water—not city limits or county lines and clear, meaningful and measurable.
It’s a real geography we can map, learn from, and track over time, and flexible as BriarPatch grows.
The Watershed boundary helps us expand thoughtfully as we serve new communities and aligns with our mission and values.
It connects food, farms, waterways, ecosystems, and community wellbeing in one shared framework.
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is a geographic area defined by how a single system of liquid water moves above and below ground to supply essential habitat for either a single ecosystem or a network of connected ecosystems. Watersheds can be examined at many different scales… to the Sacramento River Valley, which encompasses 26,500 square miles.”
—Obi Kaufmann, The State of Water
Our Local Definition
Local = anything grown or produced within the Sacramento Watershed—the watershed in which current BriarPatch locations operate.
And just as important: “direct from producers” because it remains a core part of what local means to us. We’ll continue to celebrate the farm-direct relationships BriarPatch has built over decades.
What This Makes Possible
Defining local through the Sacramento Watershed helps BriarPatch:
- Strengthen and expand our local food community in a way that’s demonstrable and adaptable over time
- Educate and inspire deeper connection to our environment—and our responsibility to it
- Make “local” more tangible through events, classes and experiences tied to place
- Build stronger partnerships with organizations working on water and environmental stewardship
- Create meaningful in-store storytelling and cross-promotion with brands and producers who share environmental values
Are you a local producer? Become a Local Supplier.
Grown with love.
Wingfield Honey
Keeping the bees alive and healthy without the use of synthetic chemicals is one management practice that sets them apart.
FogDog Farm
Kristen and William have been independently farming conserved land in the rolling foothills of El Dorado County since 2019
Starbright Acres Family Farm
Starbright Acres Family Farm delivers a diverse array of veggies to BriarPatch.
Mountain Bounty Farm
Founded in 1997 by John Tecklin, Mountain Bounty Farm is a 50-acre organic family farm located high on the forested contours of the San Juan Ridge near Nevada City, California.
Stone’s Throw Farm
Meet Steven and Bryanna Eisenhut of Stone’s Throw Farm, nestled in the outskirts of Colfax.
Super Tuber Farm
BriarPatch Food Co-op is proud to carry delicious potatoes, carrots, cabbage and beets from Super Tuber Farm.
Photo by Akim Aginsky