6 Reasons to Eat Local

I have waxed poetry about the benefits of supporting your local farmer market and that’s because I truly mean it when I say that knowing where your food comes from is an awesome thing! So let’s talk a little bit about the locavore movement, aka the idea of eating locally grown and locally made food.

Home gardens, local co-ops and farmer markets are all driving this force to get better food to your plate. This movement has a two-fold mission: get people to eat food that comes from less than 100 miles from its place of purchase but also to help the environment. So you need a little more convincing? Here are six reasons to eat local.

1.) Well for starters, it tastes better!

2.) The less distance your food has to travel, the fresher it will be. I find this to be particularly true with peaches and strawberries. The stuff you get in the store might have been in transit for days or even longer.

3.) Speaking of distance, that basket of organic raspberries from Mexico? It didn’t get to your supermarket on the wings of a sparrow. It was flown in a huge jumbo jet; offset your carbon footprint by limiting the distance your food has to travel from its point of origin.

4.) You are supporting your local economy by keeping your money in the community, helping farmers and small businesses thrive. That’s a win for everyone!

5.) Eating local keeps us closer to the natural pace of the seasons by using produce when it is most abundant (and therefore cheaper).

6.) And lastly by eating local food you are helping maintain that green spaces and farmlands stay in your area. Because seriously, do we need another Walmart?

And with that said, I want to add that eating locally doesn’t have to mean a huge overall to your lifestyle. Start small, go the farmer’s market or visit a farm and figure out what you eat regularly that can be bought locally. Also, take out the guess work and use the locavore app! This handy little app will help you find the closest places that sells local and in-season products. 

Or you could start your own garden. I am so glad that we did this past spring, it truly gave me an appreciation for the hard work that goes into growing food. I can't wait to do it all over again next year!