Reasons to Buy Local Produce

photo credit: di_the_huntress

Summer has arrived, and in my town that means that the Gardener’s Market is open for business. I love the Gardener’s Market. I can find delicious, fresh local produce. In most cases, I buy straight from the farmer/gardener. Our Gardener’s Market also includes grass raised, hormone-free beef and other meats. We can find fresh caught trout from an hour away in the neighboring state. I just bring my reusable grocery bags to the Gardener’s Market and stock up on what I need for the week.

While I do enjoy the occasional meat or fish from the Gardener’s Market, I am much more interested in the produce. One of the reasons is that there is a psychological connection to buying produce from someone you consider a neighbor. But there are other reasons to buy local produce:

1. Fewer fossil fuels: This is one of the biggest reasons that many people try to buy from a local produce market. Transporting produce across long distances uses a great deal of gasoline or diesel. This contributes to pollution and energy use. By supporting local produce markets, you are helping to reduce the transportation associated with produce. When I can’t get local produce at the Gardener’s Market, I try to look at the stickers on the food in the grocery store to see where the food is coming from, and I try to choose food that has taken the shortest trip.
2. Help keep more open land: If you are concerned about development in your locality, one way you can help reduce development is by purchasing local produce. Local farmers are more likely to remain in business if they are making money. If you help them stay in business, their farms are likely to remain intact, rather than the land being sold off to developers.
3. Fewer pesticides: While there is no guarantee that local farmers use fewer pesticides, many claim to. If you trust your local farmers’ claims that they use organic, non-pesticide methods of pest control, then you might feel better about what you are eating. While there are no conclusive scientific studies showing that organic produce has a greater health value, many feel that chemicals on food can’t be good for the body. As a result, it is encouraging for many to find foods that ripen naturally and are not sprayed down with chemicals.
4. More nutrients: Again, this can’t be substantiated by rigorous scientific study, but some nutritionists believe that produce that ripens on the vine is more likely to have a higher concentration of nutrients. In many cases, non-local produce is picked before it is ripe, so that it does not spoil in transit. If you believe that your food will have more nutrients if it ripens on the vine, then using local produce might be a good option.

One of the best ways to get local produce, though, is to grow it yourself. There are a number of plants that you can grow on your own, including in small spaces. Having your own garden can help you save money on produce, which can get expensive. Plus, you will be living a more sustainable lifestyle. As a bonus, you can get good exercise while gardening — just one way that going green can improve your health.

In the end, you can help benefit your local community, when you buy local produce that is better for the environment and, arguably, better for your health.