Why Buy Local Grown?

Remember that old commercial that went like this . . . “Brown eggs are local eggs and local eggs are fresh?”  Catchy little ring that made us all open up our egg containers and check for brown eggs.  Buying local now-a-days goes way beyond buying eggs and the reasons  also go far beyond tha taste.  Why should you buy local?  Let’s look at some of the biggest reasons you should shop at local farms and farm stands.

1. Better Taste!  Buying from local stands ensures that you are getting food at the peak of freshness.   Produce that travels long distances is days older. The sugars turn to starches, the plant cells shrink, and produce loses its vitality and flavor.
2. Buying Local Supports Local!  Farming is a dying job.  Less than 1% of American families report farming as their primary job.  It is  hard to make a living when you get less than 10 cents of every retail food dollar. Buying local cuts out the middleman and the farmer gets more for his hard work.
3. Help the environment!  Buy buying local there is less packaging with less waste that ends up in our land fills.  Buying local also conserves the energy that’s used for transport to stores. In addition, Family farmers tend to be good stewards of the land – they respect and value fertile soil and clean water.
4. Nutrition!  Once harvested, produce quickly loses nutrients. Since local produce is sold right after it’s picked, it retains more nutrients.

The benefits to your community go well beyond the taste, nutrition and energy savings. . . it brings a community together!

Categorized in: Nutrition, Produce News