In today’s world the food on your plate travels an average of 1500 miles. Asparagus from Argentina, apples from New Zealand, and shrimp from Thailand are just a few examples. But there is a growing to look at our food in a whole new way - to eat close to home. It is time we explored the benefits and advantages of eating local foods , those grown or raised within about 100 to 200 miles of where you live.

Buying locally and suatainable produced foods help preserve the health of the land for future generations. Eating locally puts people back in touch with where their food comes from as well as building a stronger sense of community. Returning to a more whole-food diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes, which local foods tend to be, has numerous health benefits in warding off many ailments.

There is also the issue of food safety. Produce and animals raised on a smaller scale, by people you can actually meet on local farms, helps cut down on pathogens as well as reduces the opportunity for anyone to meddle with your food before it gets to you.

It has been determined that moving just one percent of consumer expenditures to purchasing local food products increases farmers’ income by five percent. But the “buy local” movement is struggling with how to responsibly distribute its products as the demand increases. Local farmers’ markets have radically multiplied as more people have discovered that locally grown food just tastes better!

How To Eat Locally

Visit you local food co-op and ask about the folks who supply their food and where it comes from.

Discover a farmers’ market in your area and shop there regularly.

Find out who your local producers are and pay them a visit.

Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farm where you pay the grower up front to produce meat, produce or dairy for you to pick up on a regular basis.

Put in vegetable garden of your own and learn how to preserve the foods you grow. Perhaps barter some of your potatoes for someone else’s corn.