Buy your food locally in order to get the most out of your nutrition while also supporting local farms! With these 8 reasons why you should buy your food locally, you’ll want to make the switch today!
Food is something we all need. We’re all faced with the same decisions every day: what am I going to feed my family for breakfast, lunch and dinner? It’s unavoidable! With such a constant decision that needs to be made, it’s important to give it intentional thought.
Personally, it took me a while to get to that place. I didn’t think it mattered where my food was coming from or wether or not I bought “organic.” Did it really matter what they used to grow the produce I ate or how they raised the chicken I was consuming? Well, let me tell you that it did then and it certainly does now. For years I was ignorant to this fact but thankfully, my eyes have been opened. Now, I hope to also encourage you to buy your food locally.
You see, food source does matter. Chemicals that may be used on certain things surely has an impact on us. Supporting local farmers over large corporations does impact your community. Sometimes, it’s just easier to avoid these realities because many times they’re unseen.
But, today I want to shed light on those realities. By knowing the impacts of buying your food locally, you can make wiser and more intentional grocery shopping decisions. In fact, it also makes meal planning 10x easier. Let’s break down 10 reasons you should buy your food locally.
8 Reasons To Buy Your Food Locally
1. Local food is fresher
I think we can all agree that it’s important to implement fresh fruits and veggies into our diet. Well, the best way to get the most fresh produce is by getting it locally. When you buy produce from the grocery store, that produce has been handled, packaged and shipped. Throughout that process, the nutrient value and freshness of the food is decreasing. Unfortunately, fruits and vegetables begin losing their optimal nutrition value as soon as they’re picked. However, when you buy from a local farmer’s market or produce stand, it’s almost guaranteed that little to no processing/packaging took place. Freshly harvested fruits and veggies are brought directly from farm to table!
2. Buying your food local supports local farms
Yes, supporting local famers is important! When you give your money to large grocery stores, your money rarely makes it to the farmer. Most of that money is going to the packaging and shipping process. Plus, if you buy packaged and processed foods you are creating a demand for more of that to be made. On the flip side, when you buy local you are making sure a high demand continues for local farming. This will ensure that there is fresh, local food for you and your family in the future.
3. Local food is seasonal food
While reading this article, it got me thinking more deeply about eating seasonally. While it’s great to simply be eating whole foods as well as fruits and veggies, it’s just as important to have a variety. Eating seasonally ensures this will happen. And, local farmer’s markets are the best places to find that variety of produce. Before there were grocery stores, how did people eat? You guessed it! They ate according to what was available to them each season. Our bodies naturally need certain vegetables in the summer months compared to the winter months. For example, in the summer our bodies need cooling foods like fresh fruits, veggies and berries. In the winter months our bodies are better suited for rich and high-fat foods. Trust me, you won’t find this seasonal variety anywhere at a grocery store.
4. Buying your food local brings variety
This goes hand in hand with seasonal eating. Whenever you choose to buy food local it’s also promoting a varied diet. Since you are relying on what’s available locally at any given time of the year, it’s highly likely that options will be changing. Local markets won’t have certain food in the winter months that are usually prominent in the summer months. Plus, it forces you to get creative and expand your palette! Variety of food, especially variety of fruits and vegetables, is wonderful for your body and diet.
5. It supports the local economy
By buying your groceries from local farmers, you are supporting their jobs. This supports and boosts your local economy. In many places, especially where I live, local farms donate their food to food banks and are very generous with any surplus. This would most likely discontinue if farms went away. Plus, jobs are being provided when there is a demand for local farming. You are not only guaranteeing the future of local farming, but you are also making sure the people of your community have jobs available.
6. It’s most often chemical-free
Did you know that nearly 75 percent of non-organic fresh produce sold in the U.S. contains remnants of potentially harmful pesticides?! That’s a shockingly high number! That means that a large majority of what you’re probably buying in the grocery store has been infected with chemicals. Certain pesticides have even been linked to birth defects, cancer and diabetes. Make the switch by simply buying locally. More often than not, local farmers are not using pesticides or those harmful chemicals to grow their food. It is also helpful to look for things that are “certified organic” because this means they’ve met all federal standards.
7. Meat is organically raise
Eating organic, local food goes beyond produce. Meat is another thing to consider and a very important one as well. Pasture-raised beef and poultry is so much better for you because the use of additives is non-existent or much lower. Do you really want to be eating meat that’s been injected with antibiotics? Personally, I know that when my meat is coming from good-quality sources I can truly feel the difference in my body and overall health!
8. It truly tastes better
Have you ever noticed the difference between a freshly harvested strawberry and one that’s been on the shelf for an extended period of time? Well, you should notice that the fresh strawberry obviously tastes SO much better! Local food is one way to get the best tasting food. Since produce is usually harvested a day or two before you see it, it’s most likely going to taste much better. Also, beef and poultry that is pasture raised has a much richer, denser flavor. Once you taste the difference you won’t want to go back!
Make the switch
Make the switch to local food sourcing today! You’ll be benefiting the health of your family while supporting the local community and economy. So, the next time you’re making your grocery list, try checking out the local farmer’s market and produce stands. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
Need help turning all this great quality food into meals? Check out How To Create A Weekly Meal Plan.
Also, let us know in the comments if you’re choosing to buy local! Let us know your favorite places to buy organic, fresh meat and produce. Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive all the homemaking, housekeeping and DIY content straight to your inbox!
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