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Given the massive growth and development of many communities, the last few decades have seen a decline in the local farmer. That trend appears to be reversing. Perhaps you've seen an increase in advertisements in your newspaper or in the produce aisle highlighting local farming. There are a lot of reasons why purchasing locally-grown produce is a good idea, but there are a few caveats as well. I hope to help you navigate this growing trend.
In terms of benefits, local farms typically spend less time in transit, meaning the food is fresher and has more nutrients. Because of this, local foods have higher amounts of vitamins and minerals while lasting longer. Unfortunately, unadulterated produce items can lose nutrient content rather fast. If produce is frozen or canned quickly after harvest, they can often be higher in nutrient value than products in the produce aisle that have traveled a great distance, despite a general assumption that these foods carry greater freshness.
The more money you spend on local produce and other businesses, the greater the positive impact it has on your community. Higher income levels mean more disposable income for your neighbors and surrounding area. This can only help increase the spending and investing that takes place close to home. Furthermore, tax receipts will increase as well, meaning more funding for schools, roads, and other important public spending areas.
Eating local produce, particularly if your community as a whole is focused on it, can help out greatly in emergencies. When disaster strikes, as it did with Hurricane Sandy in 2012, there can be significant issues in the supply chain. Many grocery aisles in the Northeast were bare with new deliveries days from arriving. This happened with gasoline as well. Although it is not a guarantee at all, eating local produce could help in times of need. To me, this is a bonus to all of the other positive benefits I already mentioned.
Local produce can have negatives, though, that must be considered. If a farmer uses genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), all bets are off and the previously-mentioned benefits are negated. These types of crops should be avoided. Research suggests there are significant negative effects of continually ingesting them. I have also never seen an independent report that supports the use of GMOs.
The second area to be careful of is pesticide usage. Buying local does little for you if the food you are buying was doused in cancer-causing chemicals. I highly recommend purchasing only from organic farms. They don't necessarily have to be USDA certified, but it helps, particularly if you don't have a relationship and established trust with the farm.
My hope is that you will consider making local producers a key part of your weekly purchases. As long as you avoid pesticides and GMOs, you should be in good hands. If you don't, you are risking your health.
In terms of benefits, local farms typically spend less time in transit, meaning the food is fresher and has more nutrients. Because of this, local foods have higher amounts of vitamins and minerals while lasting longer. Unfortunately, unadulterated produce items can lose nutrient content rather fast. If produce is frozen or canned quickly after harvest, they can often be higher in nutrient value than products in the produce aisle that have traveled a great distance, despite a general assumption that these foods carry greater freshness.
The more money you spend on local produce and other businesses, the greater the positive impact it has on your community. Higher income levels mean more disposable income for your neighbors and surrounding area. This can only help increase the spending and investing that takes place close to home. Furthermore, tax receipts will increase as well, meaning more funding for schools, roads, and other important public spending areas.
Eating local produce, particularly if your community as a whole is focused on it, can help out greatly in emergencies. When disaster strikes, as it did with Hurricane Sandy in 2012, there can be significant issues in the supply chain. Many grocery aisles in the Northeast were bare with new deliveries days from arriving. This happened with gasoline as well. Although it is not a guarantee at all, eating local produce could help in times of need. To me, this is a bonus to all of the other positive benefits I already mentioned.
Local produce can have negatives, though, that must be considered. If a farmer uses genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), all bets are off and the previously-mentioned benefits are negated. These types of crops should be avoided. Research suggests there are significant negative effects of continually ingesting them. I have also never seen an independent report that supports the use of GMOs.
The second area to be careful of is pesticide usage. Buying local does little for you if the food you are buying was doused in cancer-causing chemicals. I highly recommend purchasing only from organic farms. They don't necessarily have to be USDA certified, but it helps, particularly if you don't have a relationship and established trust with the farm.
My hope is that you will consider making local producers a key part of your weekly purchases. As long as you avoid pesticides and GMOs, you should be in good hands. If you don't, you are risking your health.
About the Author:
Please see my website for more information dangers of food additives and preservatives or my blog at Natural claim on food label
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