Great Reasons to Buy Locally Grown Foods

We all love the arrival of summertime when the farmer's markets finally return to the streets and open up so that those of us that do have have time for, space for or the means to garden can buy the freshest fruits and vegetables, and other items. Some people are even lucky enough to have indoor farm markets that are open all year round when any in-season goodies can be found. Here are just a few reasons why it is just plain smart to buy and eat locally grown, and made, foods and other items.

Buying foods from local growers and vendors helps the local economy. Instead of our money going out of state or overseas it stays right here to help out our neighbors and friends. Breeding a better local economy means more money for ourselves in the long run.

Buying locally grown produce means that we are getting fresher foods. The food has not been stored for days, week or months before it reaches you, meaning it is not only the freshest but it will also taste better. Your foods will also be in better shape. Imagine buying a bag of apples and not one of them is bruised! You just can not get that at the grocery store.

Eating locally grown foods is the next best thing to eating organic, in fact, it may be even better. With locally grown and made you can speak directly to your farmers and vendors and find out straight from them how their foods are produced and you do not even have to worry about the traveling conditions that most organic foods go through.

No trains, no big semi trucks polluting our air. Just a farmer with a truck sitting under a canopy at your local farmer's market. This means less air pollution and a greener planet. Foods are less likely to become contaminated with their shorter trip to your tables too. They go directly from local grower to that local market without spending time traveling long distances where they can pick up contaminants.

You will find a big variety of foods and other items at the local farmer's market, and it leaves you without the worries of trying to pick out the best "brand" name. You get better, fresher foods. And that is only a couple of the great things about buying local. You can get lettuce (of all varieties), in-season fruits and vegetables, gourds and flowers to use as household decorations, hand made items from wool and other natural resources, including soaps and candles, and so much more. What better way is there to shop?

Source:

http://www.localharvest.org/