Farm to Fork: The Benefits of Local Food

There is more discussion of shopping for local food.  What does that mean?  Is it simply going to your favorite organic grocery store or visiting your farmers market?  Yes, to both!  Local food is commonly defined as food grown within 100 miles or even within the state you live in.  This definition can vary.  It can be based on the region and seasonal availability.

If you’re visiting a grocery store that provides local farmer produce, you’re shopping local.  It doesn’t have to be a trip to the local farmers market, but I do recommend this as well.  Get to know your farmer.  Often, due to the cost to receive an organic certification, a local farmer may be practicing organic standards but may not be officially certified.  The art of shopping at your farmers market is also a social experience.  As humans, we need that social interaction.  So take the time to get to know your farmer, their practices, seasonal produce and you might make a friend. 

​A health benefit is that local food is often more nutrient dense.  The reason is due to transporting foods.  Fresh produce is at peak quality when picked or at least should be.  As it’s shipped across the United States or from another country, its quality starts to deteriorate through a process called respiration and it loses nutrients.  By the time it gets to you and then you leave it in the refrigerator for a few days, you may end up with minimal vitamins and minerals.  That’s a bummer when you’ve taken the time to pick out the greenest organic broccoli or reddest peppers. 

Here are a few more reason why shopping local is beneficial.   

1. It supports the farmer and consumer relationship and the local economy by putting money back into local resources.
2. It supports local growers allowing the consumer to learn more about the growing, farming and harvesting techniques.
3. It allows you to eat a seasonal diet.
4. It provides more nutrients due to less travel time for the plant. 
5. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions due to food shipping.  On average, food travels over 1000 miles from farm to fork. 

Bonus:  It reduces the use of additional plastics since packaging for local food is often minimal. 

There are more benefits to shopping local, but you get the idea.  Next time you’re choosing local, seasonal food at your grocery store or farmers market, know that you’re supporting your local economy and gaining the health benefits of nutrient dense food.  
​#mindbodyyou #farmtofork #celestecooperpeel

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