7 Benefits of Eating Local Foods
Summer is the perfect time to shop your local farmers market for fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. Depending on the size of your community, you may even find baked goods like quiches and muffins or other farm-fresh items, such as yogurt, milk, cheese and eggs. While browsing through locally produced food items is objectively more fun than cruising down grocery store aisles, there are even more benefits to eating local than you might realize. Scroll through the slideshow to discover seven important benefits that come with eating foods produced close to home.
Local food teaches us about food production.
Speaking of community ties, eating local will help you connect with the farmers, ranchers and other producers in your area. You can’t expect the grocery store employees to know how the latest shipment of strawberries was grown. But if you strike up a conversation with a vendor selling berries at a local farmers market, you can easily discover how they were grown, when they’re in season and how best to use them. Plus, developing relationships with local producers can lead to higher trust in your community and a deeper appreciation for the food on your plate.