There has been a significant marketing push in many communities across the country, recommending that consumers purchase produce from nearby farms. It makes sense and it is likely to continue. There are numerous reasons why, and I will lay them out for you. However, there are a few things to be careful of. Just because a farm is around the corner doesn't mean it's your best option.
First, it's likely that local food was picked more recently than produce coming from across the country or another country, meaning it's fresher and more nutritious. Local food will likely last longer and have more nutrients. Many produce items lose nutrients quickly. Frozen and canned food are often more nutritious than some products on the shelf at the supermarket, although most would consider the latter to be fresher.
Furthermore, your purchases benefit your community. The more you and your neighbors spend on local businesses, the more vibrant your community will be. Income levels will be higher, meaning more available dollars to spend and invest, as well as more tax dollars to spend on local public needs. What's more, purchasing local produce lessens the impact on the environment, due to lower transportation costs, which can also mean lower prices for the consumer.
Local foods can also protect you when disaster strikes. Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Northeast in the fall of 2012, created massive disruptions to supply chains. The most hurtful were the delays in getting food and gasoline to local communities. The more you rely on long-distance goods, the greater the risk when disaster strikes. Consider eating locally-grown foods (and locally produced goods and services) as part of an emergency survival plan. It doesn't work though if you wait until the event happens to make the change. It's too late at that point.
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.
I hope you consider locally-grown produce the next time you go food shopping. Just remember to make sure they are organic or non-GMO. Otherwise, you're wasting your money and hurting your health.
First, it's likely that local food was picked more recently than produce coming from across the country or another country, meaning it's fresher and more nutritious. Local food will likely last longer and have more nutrients. Many produce items lose nutrients quickly. Frozen and canned food are often more nutritious than some products on the shelf at the supermarket, although most would consider the latter to be fresher.
Furthermore, your purchases benefit your community. The more you and your neighbors spend on local businesses, the more vibrant your community will be. Income levels will be higher, meaning more available dollars to spend and invest, as well as more tax dollars to spend on local public needs. What's more, purchasing local produce lessens the impact on the environment, due to lower transportation costs, which can also mean lower prices for the consumer.
Local foods can also protect you when disaster strikes. Hurricane Sandy, which hit the Northeast in the fall of 2012, created massive disruptions to supply chains. The most hurtful were the delays in getting food and gasoline to local communities. The more you rely on long-distance goods, the greater the risk when disaster strikes. Consider eating locally-grown foods (and locally produced goods and services) as part of an emergency survival plan. It doesn't work though if you wait until the event happens to make the change. It's too late at that point.
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.
I hope you consider locally-grown produce the next time you go food shopping. Just remember to make sure they are organic or non-GMO. Otherwise, you're wasting your money and hurting 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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