Five Reasons to Eat Local Produce

Americans are fat. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are killing us slowly, and that means the terrorists win, if you really want me to spell it out for you. OK, that's a bit much, but you get the point.

Eating locally grown produce is not a luxury for those living in idyllic settings in New England and California; it can be done almost anywhere. You may have said to yourself, "Yes, I should go to the farmer's market this Saturday, or I could sleep in." True, sleeping in does have its merits, but please allow me to show you that buying local produce can be much better for you than that extra hour of snoring.

First of all, buying local doesn't mean that you are forced to visit the stands at the local farmer's market. Small neighborhood markets and farm stands are popping up across the country (or they have been there all along) and why not incorporate popping into a farm stand while waiting for the kids at soccer practice. I know the supermarket is your one-stop shop for everything you need, but economics is based on a something called supply and demand, and if we as a country give Wal-Mart one less reason for opening up in every burg and by-water, we can make locally grown produce more easily available. So you can still sleep in on Saturday.

1. Fresher means better and more nutritious

Fruits and vegetables start to lose their optimal nutritional value as soon as they are picked. Those tomatoes at the supermarket are probably at least a week or two old. That tomato from the farmer's market was picked that morning (maybe yesterday, worst case scenario). Not to mention, have you ever tasted a fresh tomato? No contest.

2. Buying from the farmer is cheaper.

Cut out the middleman. The farmer usually doesn't have to factor in advertising and packaging costs, not to mention cross-country shipping costs to his products.

3. Buying what's available forces you to get creative.

There was a time in human history before refrigeration. People had root cellars to keep things like potatoes available through the winter. We ate seasonally. We ate asparagus in the spring, tomatoes and corn in the summer, and brussel sprouts and Belgian endive in the fall. So, sure, you could buy that bag of frozen stir-fry veggies and really wow the kids tonight, or you could explore your inner Julia Child. Our palates and stomachs want variety, crave it in fact. Give in.

4. You have less of a chance of E Coli and other bacterial outbreaks.

A bacterium only needs time to grow. Logically, if you are eating fresher produce, there is less time for anything nasty and "killy" to grow and harm you or your family. Also, studies have shown that increased handling can increase the chances for bacterial contaminations.

5. It's the economy, stupid.

A British study has actually figured out that spending a dollar on local produce means the dollar will effectively double while being kept in the local economy. You pay the farmer, the farmer pays the vet, the vet buys dinner at the local diner, and tips the server, the server gets her hair done at the salon...you see where this is going. Not only that, but less money is being spent on shipping costs, and less shipping means less gas, which means less fossil fuels being used, and the planet will thank you with even juicier peaches.

6. Bonus reason: You might make a new friend.

Shopping at a farmer's market can be a very social experience. Ask the person behind the stand how they are doing and maybe what are their growing practices. Maybe the person squeezing the cantelope next to you can join in and offer their recipe for zucchini. Fruits and vegetables in every color of the rainbow should make you smile, and with a smile on your face, others will smile.