Whether you stuff yourself on turducken or tofurkey this holiday season supporters of the "local food" movement think you should know where the ingredients for your dinner come from.

"By promoting the seasonal products of local farmers and striving to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture on healthy watersheds, we are fostering a regional food system," said Seth Walker, Director of Marketing and Communications for Ecotrust, a conservation organization based in Portland, Oregon.

"Our objectives are to improve public understanding of local agriculture and increase the market share of locally grown food."

Ecotrust was among a group of organizations that first introduced the "Eat Local Challenge" in 2005, a year-round program that encourages consumers to "commit to a week of eating locally and seasonally."

The basic concept is to buy foods grown and raised in your general geographic area to get fresher fare, support the local economy, and help reduce the sizable carbon footprint created by shipping food across the country and around the world.

Sounds simple enough, right? Well, the truth of the matter is that it can take a little work to jump on the local food bandwagon, especially if you are used to buying your groceries from supermarkets and warehouse stores.

Here are a few simple steps Ecotrust recommends for getting started:

1. Shop weekly at your local farmers market or farm stand.
2. Buy from local grocers and co-ops committed to stocking local foods.
3. Support restaurants and food vendors that buy locally produced food.
4. Grow your own food in your yard or community garden plot.
5. Ask your grocer or favorite restaurant what local foods they carry.

If you don't know where to start in your area, simply head over to Local Harvest and type in your zip code to find farmers' markets, family farms, and other sources of sustainably grown food in your area including produce, grass-fed meats, and more.