Wondering if all the hype about locally raised meat and produce is justified? Here are 10 good reasons to eat local food.
Image Source Rhythm_In_Life from focus on
Why eat local food?
Locally grown and raised food has gained more and more attention over the past few years, but people who want to buy local food do face some challenges. For example, finding locally produced foods isn’t always as easy to find as in the produce aisle of your local grocery store. This means finding local food may require more effort, requiring dedicated trips to local farmers markets, finding farm stands, searching online, etc.
Also, since the price of local food usually reflects the actual cost of producing it, rather than the subsidized, “fake cheap” prices we’re used to seeing in supermarkets, local food tends to cost more and is therefore harder to afford.
You can also enjoy:
“Vandana Shiva talks ‘fake cheap’ food (video)”
Still, local food offers you, your community, and the environment enough benefits to be worth your time, money, and effort.
10 reasons why you should add local foods to your diet
Image by Robson Machado from Pixabay
Here are 10 reasons why you should consider adding more locally raised meat and locally grown produce to your diet right now.
#1.Eat local food and support local farms
Buying local produce keeps local farms healthy and creates local jobs on farms and in nearby food processing and distribution systems.
You can also enjoy:
“Is the local food in your hometown friendly?”
“5 Ways to Find Farmers in Your Area”
“How to grow half the food in your backyard in less than an hour a day”
#2.boost local economy
Food money spent on local farms and food producers stays in the local economy, creating more jobs for other local businesses.
#3.Less travel = less pollutants
Image Source F. Muhammad from focus on
Compared to typical fresh or processed grocery store food, local food travels a much shorter distance to market and therefore uses less fuel and produces fewer greenhouse gases.
#4.When you eat local food it reduces waste
Because the distribution chain for local food is shorter, less food is wasted in distribution, warehousing and sales.
#5.Local food is fresher, more flavorful and nutritious
Image Source Beth Thomas from focus on
Local food is fresher, healthier and tastes better because less transport time from farm to fork results in less loss of nutrients and less spoilage.
#6.Enjoy new and better flavors every season
As you commit to buying more local food, you’ll discover fun new foods, delicious new ways to prepare food, and a new appreciation for the joy of food every season.
You can also enjoy:
“6 Reasons You Should Call the Extension Office Today”
“How to Build Low Tunnels: A Simple, Inexpensive Way to Extend the Growing Season”
#7.Beneficial to the gene pool and soil
Local food encourages the diversification of local agriculture, thereby preserving genetic diversity and reducing reliance on monocrops—growing monocultures over large areas that damage soils.
#8.Local delicacies attract tourists
Local food promotes agritourism – farmers markets and opportunities to visit farms and local food producers help attract tourists to the area.
#9.It helps protect open spaces when you eat locally
Image Source Andrea Candelaya from focus on
Buying local food helps local farms survive and thrive, preventing land from being redeveloped into suburban sprawl.
#10.Local Foods Build Closer Communities
Local food creates more vibrant communities by connecting people with farmers and food producers who bring them healthy local food. As clients at CSA and farmers markets have discovered, they are a great place to meet friends and farmers!
What do you think?
Why do you buy and eat local food? What’s the best way to find local food? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
__________________
This is an updated version of an article originally published on June 1, 2016. Authors may not be able to respond to comments at this time, but we encourage our community members to join, share their experiences and answer questions!
Grow Network is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which is designed to give our team a way to earn money for recommending our favorite products! If you purchase an item after clicking one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support of TGN!
(1,482 visits, 1 visit today)
The Grow Network is a global network of people who produce their own food and medicines. We are the coolest bunch of backyard researchers on the planet! We are constantly sharing, discovering and collaborating to test new ways of living sustainably – while reconnecting with the “old ways” that are disappearing in the modern world. We value soil, water, sunlight, simplicity, sustainability, practicality and freedom. We work hard to produce, prepare and preserve our own food and medicines, and we want you to do the same!
