8 Benefits of Eating Local Foods

Eating locally grown food has many benefits for the consumer, the grower, the community and for Mother Earth. Having locally grown food available to add to meals is irresistible and “it’s good for you”! Some of the many benefits of buying locally grown food include:

• Locally grown food is full of flavor. When grown locally, the crops are picked at their peak of ripeness versus being harvested early in order to be shipped thousands of miles, stored in warehouses for days or weeks, then distributed to your local retail store. At Forest Cove Farm, our fresh produce is picked within 24 hours of your purchase and it has not travelled “a single mile”!

 

• Local food has more nutrients. The shorter the amount of time between harvest and your table, the more nutrient value in your food. Because local food has a shorter time between harvest and your table, local food has greater health value. Food imported from far-away is often older, has traveled and sits in distribution centers before it gets to your store. 

 

• Local food is good for your health. Every bite of food you eat matters. Every mile your food travels matters. Every day your food sits in a warehouse matters. Food that was not picked ripe, or that has been picked and stored for days and even weeks or that was sprayed to increase its longevity becomes inferior food. In comparison, fresh local food is full of life energy, it is loaded with nutrients, and it is so good for your health. On top of all these benefits, everything we grow at Forest Cove Farm is grown organically and nothing is ever sprayed to increase the longevity of our food. 

 

• Local food is the least expensive food your dollar can buy. Absolutely! When you do a “nutrients per dollar test”, local food is the winner by far. Local organically grown food also tastes better and keeps longer because it is fresher.

 

• Local food supports the local economy. The money that is spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in your community. Evidence shows that healthy locally grown food continues to be a critical factor for improving both the physical and economic health and well-being of communities.

 

• Local food benefits the environment. By purchasing locally grown foods you help maintain farmland and green and/or open space in your community. In addition, you help reduce emissions from fossil fuels used in transporting food long distances. 

• Local foods promote a safer food supply. The more steps there are between you and your food’s source, the more chances there are for contamination. Food grown in distant locations has the potential for food safety issues at harvesting, washing, shipping and distribution.

• Local growers can tell you how the food was grown. You can ask what practices they use to raise and harvest the crops. When you know where your food comes from and who grew it, you know a lot more about that food.

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As the growing season starts and gets into full swing, you should think about how you can add more locally grown foods to your menus. By doing so you are supporting the many benefits of locally grown food.