Reasons to Eat Local Food

Eating local means more money for the local economy.

According to a study by the New Economics Foundation in London, a dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy. When businesses are not owned locally, money leaves the community at every transaction.

Locally grown produce is fresher.

While produce that is purchased in the supermarket or a big-box store has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks, produce that you purchase at your local farmer’s market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. The freshness not only affects the taste of your food, but the nutritional value declines with time.

Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen.

Because the produce will be handled less, locally grown fruit does not have to be “rugged” or stand up to the rigors of shipping. This means that you are going to be getting peaches so ripe that they fall apart as you eat them, figs that would have been smashed to bits if they were sold using traditional methods and melons that were allowed to ripen until the last possible minute on the vine.

Eating local is better for air quality and pollution than eating organic.

In a March 2005 study by the journal Food Policy, it was found that the miles that organic food often travels to our plate create environmental damage that outweighs the benefit of buying organic.

Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons.

By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.

Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story.

Whether it’s the farmer who brings apples to market or the baker who makes the bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.

Eating local is safer.

Produce from smaller farms that are closer to you has less susceptibility to harmful contamination that is more likely on large scale farms.

Local food translates to more variety.

When a farmer is producing food that will not travel a long distance, will have a shorter shelf life, and does not have a high-yield demand, the farmer is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket. Supermarkets are interested in selling “Name Brand” fruit: Romaine Lettuce, Red Delicious Apples, Russet Potatoes. Local producers often play with their crops from year to year, trying out Little Gem Lettuce, Senshu Apples, and Chieftan Potatoes.

Supporting local providers supports responsible land development.

When you buy local, you give those with local open space—farms and pastures—an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.

*Originally featured by Eat Local Challenge, view their website to find more information on the benefits of eating local.