Why buy produce from your local farmers?
Many of our local farmers have disappeared and we’ve all failed to notice or care! We’ve been focusing on our budget, to the extent that we’ve given up on our taste buds, thus giving up on our overall health!
Ever wonder why the fruits and vegetables in hot countries are so flavorful? Well its not rocket science, the answer is obvious; the produce is grown locally!
Savetheplanet’s Top 10 advantages of why you should buy locally-
1. Buying locally will improve your health! Fewer pesticides are used on produce as they are usually picked that same day. They are of a higher quality as it stays on the plant longer, maximizing its nutrient content, appearance and texture, and of course, overall taste.
2. You directly support farming communities as the money farmers make goes directly to them and abolishes any intermediaries.
3. Purchasing foods grown and produced locally sustains farming in communities and keeps varietal products available.
4. Non-renewable resources are saved, as the food does not travel great distances to reach your plate, thus diminishing overall food miles.
5. You have direct contact with your farmers, allowing you to ask them any questions pertaining to how they grow their produce what pesticides they use and what they feed their animals.
6. Buying locally helps boost your economy by keeping your money circulating within your community, keeping wealth in your region.
7. Supporting local farms creates more jobs within the agri-food sector will be created if the demand for local products increases.
8. A strong local economy insulates your region from national and global recessions.
9. By supporting local agriculture, you help to protect your region’s farmland from urban sprawl and development.
10. Buying locally is great for our environment! It helps reduce dependence on foreign oil needed to ship food thousands of miles, thus cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions.
So, if buying local is nothing but advantageous, why do otherwise?
Source; http://www.foodroutes.org/whycare.jsp
Filed under: Agriculture
Good points,
#5 is hardly feasible, it’s not like one farmer can produce all the vegetables that I want. I don’t see myself having to visit 10 different farmers in order to get all the food I need.
How could someone living downtown Montreal buy food locally. Supermarkets are easily reachable: fast and easy.
I understand your concern but every city has a market that is usually easily accessible! Markets buy from local farmers, so its really the same thing! Planning your groceries ahead of time can go a long way! For one, youll have a weeks supply of fresh produce and all other staple foods can be picked up by the local supermarkets.
If you feel that going to the market is inconvenient then I suggest that you try and influence your supermarkets to buy locally instead, Im sure if their customers would make a request, they would listen! The advantages are two-fold; suppport local farmers, boost your economy and eat flavorful, healthy food!
Why buy produce from your local farmers?
Many of our local farmers have disappeared.
We have all failed to notice or care! We’ve been focusing on our budget, to the extent that we’ve given up on our taste buds, thus giving up on our overall health!