If you’re tired of returning home from the grocery store only to find the produce you spent your hard-earned money on is spoiled, it may be time to skip the big chain stores. Buying local produce like fruits, vegetables, and meats has so many benefits. Not only are there economic benefits, but it also helps save you money in the long run. If you’re not sure why you should start buying local or how to get fresh produce, keep reading to find out why so many are skipping their grocery stores in favor of local farmers. Here are the 5 Awesome Benefits of Buying Local Produce.
1. Support Local Farmers
One of the main benefits of purchasing local produce is that it supports those in your community.
Unfortunately, many corporate farms aren’t very ethical in terms of conditions for their workers. You can track where and how your food was grown and harvested when it comes to local farms.
Not sure how to support local farmers? You can search “local farmers near me” to find out where you can find local produce.
2. Fresher Food
It’s no surprise that you’ll get much fresher and tastier food when you buy locally. Many times, by the time big farm-produced food reaches the shelves, it’s close to reaching its expiration date.
When you buy food locally, you’ll have more time to use the produce. This means the food you spend your hard-earned money on will be fresher for longer.
3. Better for the Environment
When you buy food from a grocery store, you’re monetarily supporting all of the water waste, oil and gas for transportation, and pesticides that corporate farms use to produce agriculture.
Local farmers don’t have to worry about food miles, thus reducing emissions. Also, many small farmers will skip harmful chemical pesticides, keeping you and the environment healthy.
4. Encourages Diet Diversity
Buying local produce is excellent for a healthy diet. Grocery stores are full of over-processed and chemical-filled food, hidden behind confusing, scientific terms on food labels.
When you support local farmers by purchasing locally grown produce, you’re also helping your health. With plenty of fresh, organic, and chemical-free options to choose from, you can expand your palate.
5. Helps the Community
Purchasing local produce can help the farmers that grow and harvest them. However, when you buy locally, you can help the whole community.
Word of mouth can help independent farmers succeed. For example, when you mention the delicious local food you’ve purchased, your friend who works in a restaurant can help that farmer become their primary produce supplier.
Subsequently, the restaurant will be known for having some of the best, fresh food in town.
Buying Local Produce: Plenty of Benefits
Whether you buy straight from local farmers at markets in your area or frequent restaurants that get their produce in bulk from farms, buying locally grown produce is much better than going to the grocery store.
Farmer’s markets are becoming more accessible, making it easier for everyone to purchase local produce.
If this post inspired you to shop locally for your ingredients, be sure to browse the rest of our website for more great food and recipe content.
Luke Smith says
It’s nice that you pointed out how you’d get much fresher and tastier food when you buy locally. I noticed that the ingredients in our refrigerator tend to spoil pretty fast so I am currently looking for produce that has a longer storage life. I should probably try buying from a local food market and see how long fresh produce would last in our refrigerator.