As the saying goes, “you are what you eat.” What you eat has a lot to do with where your food comes from. When you eat local, you are not only eating fresher and healthier food, but you are also supporting your local economy and getting to know your community. In a world where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to know where our food comes from, eating local is one way to take back control. Here are just a few benefits of making the switch to locally sourced food. Let’s explore some of the benefits of eating local.

What is Local Food?

Local food is defined as food that is grown or produced within a certain geographic area. This could be your town, your state, or even your country. When you buy local food, you are supporting farmers and businesses in your area.

The Benefits of Eating Local

Eating local has a number of benefits for both you and your community. Here are just a few:

Personal Health Benefits

When you eat local, you can be sure that your food is fresh. That’s because it doesn’t have to travel far to get to your plate, which means it spends less time sitting in storage. Fresher food contains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than food that has been shipped from afar. Not to mention, when you buy local, you can talk to the farmer or producer about how the food was grown or raised, giving you peace of mind about the methods used.

Environmental Benefits

Eating locally also has a positive impact on the environment. Food that is shipped long distances often arrives by plane or boat, both of which are very fuel-intensive and produce high levels of emissions. When you buy local, you reduce your carbon footprint and support sustainable farming practices.

Economic Benefits

Finally, eating local helps boost the economy. When you purchase from small farmers and producers in your area, you keep money circulating within the community. This supports businesses and creates jobs. What’s not to love about that?

Ways to Eat Local

1…Visit Your Local Farmer’s Market – One great way to find local food is to visit your nearest farmer’s market. To find a farmer’s market near you, check out this website: https://www.ams.usda.gov/local-food-directories/farmersmarketshttps://www.ams…/farmers-markets-local-foods

2…Shop at Local Grocery Stores – Many grocery stores now offer sections devoted to locally grown produce.

3…CSA Programs – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs allow consumers to buy ‘shares’ of a farmers crop at the beginning of the growing season…For more information on CSA programs near you, check out this website: https://www.localharvest.org/csa/

4…Join a Food Cooperative – Food coops are member-owned grocery stores that sell primarily locally grown produce…If you’re interested in joining a food coop near you, check out this website: http://www.coopdirectory.org/

5…Grow Your Own Food – One of the best ways to eat truly locally grown food is to grow it yourself! If you don’t have a lot of space, there are plenty of ways to grow plants indoors…For tips on indoor gardening, check out this website: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/gardening-for-beginners-10-tips/

Food taste better when it is freshly picked at peak ripeness and nutrient levels are highest then as well.. shopping at farmer’s markets or signing up for CSA programs are great ways get started on eating locally! Not only does supporting local economies and building better communities, but eating local produce is typically more sustainable and environmentally friendly too! When it comes down to it, there are an endless number of reasons why everyone should be trying to eat more locally grown foods.

Of course, you should also buy a bottle of Small Axe Peppers Hot Sauce right away. Each bottle of hot sauce is made with peppers purchased from community gardens and urban farms. So you are not only getting a great flavor but you are supporting local community gardens and urban farms right in your very city! We hope this article has inspired you try fitting some into your next meal!