The Benefits of Buying Local Produce

The convenience of mass-produced fruits and vegetables in large grocery stores has made many people forget all the small local farmers in the area that may have produce that is lower in pesticides (and even organic!), more ripe, and tastier than what you may find at a grocery store.

Most produce from large supermarkets has been shipped from across the country - or even a different country. That means the fruits and vegetables are not picked at their peak ripeness. Unripe fruits are exposed to ethylene gas during shipment to speed up the ripening process and make them look pleasing when they arrive at the grocery store. This means that the red tomatoes you find in the store did not actually turn red on the vine, and they did not develop the flavor they would have if they had been allowed to do so. Try comparing fruit from a large supermarket and fruit from a local farmers market. Farmers market fruit is always the sweetest!

During the time that produce grows, it absorbs minerals from the earth and develops vitamins and enzymes within itself. When the food is picked before it is ripe, it cuts off the time it has to truly absorb and form all these nutrients. After fruits and veggies are picked, their nutritional value slowly decreases the longer it has been off the vine, bush, or tree. Buying local food can ensure you are getting things that were more recently picked, and you will have food with higher nutritional value.

Another benefit to buying local produce is energy savings. Buying local food can actually save fossil fuel because the food is not coming from hundreds of miles away. Author and activist Michael Pollan puts the impact of the food we eat into perspective:

Over the years, small farmers have become less and less common. Farmers are losing business to large companies that can conveniently produce mass quantities of food. You can buy higher quality and more nutritious items from a local farmers market. Buying locally means you will have fruits and vegetables picked at their peak of ripeness. This means better nutritional value and better taste. At a local market you can speak directly with the farmer to ask if things are organic, or ask about things they carry during different seasons. Find some farmers markets in your area and see what they have to offer!

To find places to buy local produce, begin by doing a quick search for farmer's markets in your area. Get to know the people there, because often they know lots of other farmers and can give you more information on specific produce you are interested in.

Try to find some farms where you can pick your own produce. This is very fun and fulfilling, and you will know exactly where your food is coming from. It also often lowers the cost of the produce since you are doing the picking yourself. You can find food that is ripe, delicious, fun to pick, and cheaper than what you will find at a grocery store!