With an increased awareness of where our food comes from, it’s important to understand the benefits of eating locally grown and produced food. It’s more than just an “eat local” hashtag, there are some compelling benefits to choosing local food!
With easy access to a variety of different foods, it’s easy to forget where our food comes from and the hard work many people put in to get it to our table. The convenience of supermarkets and imported goods has drastically changed how we eat but also how we appreciate food. Sometimes we forget the beauty and advantage of eating food that is grown in our backyard, or down the street!
Let’s take a closer look at why making the switch to local food is a decision worth considering!
8 Benefits of Eating Local
Freshness and Flavour
If you buy strawberries from the store and eat them alongside freshly picked strawberries, you are going to notice a drastic difference in taste, texture and even nutrition!
Locally grown produce doesn’t have to travel far, meaning it’s picked at the peak of ripeness, packed with flavour, and delivered straight to your table. The shorter the time between harvest and consumption, the better the taste and nutritional value.
Instead of eating strawberries that were picked, packaged and shipped days or weeks ago, you can enjoy strawberries that were picked hours ago! There’s also nothing like eating fresh picked strawberries from the vine!
2. Support for Local Farmers and the Economy
Yes there is an economical side to eating local, but it’s just another good reason to find local food options. When you purchase from local farmers and food producers you are helping them maintain and grow their business. This gives them more opportunity to enhance their production to serve more people in your area!
And when you circulate money within your community it means you are helping to create jobs and foster a strong economy within your area!
3. Environmental Benefits
You don’t have to be an environmentalist to know that the less trucks we have on the roads, the better it is for everyone!
The farther food travels, the more energy is consumed in transporting it. Local food, on the other hand, requires less transportation, packaging, and refrigeration, all of which helps lower its environmental impact.
Not only that but many small farms or homesteads seek agricultural options that don’t include heavy use of pesticides or other chemicals. Many operate with a focus on regenerative farming practices, which help preserve soil health, promote biodiversity, and reduce environmental damage. By eating locally, you’re supporting more eco-friendly agricultural methods.
4. Seasonal Variety
Sure it’s nice to be able to eat peaches in the middle of February or apples in May but those fruits have to travel a long distance to get to your table in the off-season.
Challenge yourself to eat produce that is seasonal! Maybe explore new foods that you wouldn’t normally buy and get creative in the kitchen with different fruits, vegetables and grains that are in season.
Not only does this put optimal nutrients on your plate but it also helps you connect with the natural cycle of the land, when things are planted, cared for and harvested. It provides a deeper appreciation for the food, especially if you only eat it during specific seasons!
Check out podcast episode 5 from “Heart of the Homestead Family” for some yummy ideas to use squash! Listen HERE.
5. Better for Your Health
The environmental benefits of fewer pesticides means the ground is healthier, but we can’t forget about you as the consumer! Mass-produced, conventionally grown food tends to have more chemicals used in the growing process as a way to ensure they are able to harvest as much as possible. And while this might help keep costs down, there is a trade off.
When purchasing from local farmers or producers it will be easier to find fruits, vegetables and other goods that don’t use pesticides in the same quantities (or at all!) as big operations. This means less potentially harmful chemicals going into your body.
Additionally, when you eat local, you know exactly where your food comes from. Many local producers are transparent about how their food is grown, harvested, and raised, so you can feel good knowing that you’re feeding your family with high-quality, nutritious ingredients.
6. Connection to the Community
The next time you check out a local farm, go strawberry picking or go to a farmer’s market, chat with the people who work there. When you buy local, you aren’t just making a purchase - you’re building relationships with farmers and workers in your community.
This connection fosters a sense of community and trust. It gives you a deeper understanding of where your food comes from and why it’s important to support local growers. Not to mention the opportunity to learn more about how food is grown, how to store it and maybe some new recipes to try with their produce!
7. Less Processing and Packaging
When you go to a grocery store, every piece of produce you see has been handled several times before you pick it up. And every piece of produce has had some type of processing and/or packaging it’s undergone. Whether it had a sticker slapped on it or it was wrapped in plastic.
Many mass-produced foods are heavily packaged in plastic or other materials that contribute to waste. Local food, however, is often sold with minimal packaging, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.
8. Teaching Future Generations About Food
When you take your children blueberry or apple picking they learn about where their food comes from. If you grow your own garden, whether it’s big or small, they see how the process of food starts from a small seed and takes time, patience and attention to develop into something tasty.
When we teach future generations about food they learn to appreciate eating local, the work and effort that goes into what they eat and the importance of caring for the earth so we can continue to grow good food!
Eat Local!
Buying locally grown and produced food shouldn’t be a fad or a hashtag. It should be a lifestyle choice that makes an investment in your health, your community and the environment.
When you choose local you choose to support farmers, workers, producers, neighbours and friends! And you get the benefit of fresh, flavourful food that comes from the same area where your children are growing.
Teach your children about food, visit a farm and look for opportunities to make food choices that are local. Eating local is more than just a tasty idea, it’s an idea that supports your community, your environment and your health!
Want to get your family on a farm to see and experience where their food comes from? Book a farm tour at Generations Marketplace and get back to basics with food! Learn more HERE.
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