I love going to farmers’ markets and I try to eat as much local food as I can. Why? Because I believe it is a better way to eat and feed my daughter. I know it can be more work and more effort to eat local, but it’s worth it.
Here are my reasons for eating local:
1. It’s so good! Have you tried Jeni’s Ice Cream yet? It is the best ice cream I’ve ever had. And after eating Jeni’s, no other ice cream will compare. The fruits and vegetables at the the Worthington Farmers’ Market are much better quality anything you can buy in the grocery store. Local restaurants are also more fun and tasty than those awful chain restaurants. Some favorites of mine are Starliner Diner, Surly Girl Saloon, and Northstar Cafe.
2. Supporting the local economy. When I buy local, I’m supporting a local small farmer or small business person. I’m keeping our money in the community that I live in because I want my community to prosper.
3. Reduce fossil fuel consumption. Local food hasn’t been shipped half way around the country or the world. The food also doesn’t have to be able to withstanding being shipped around the world.
4. Fresher food. Eating local gives me access to fresher food, particularly produce, that does not need to be sustained by chemical or other enhancements to ensure a longer shelf-life. I buy Snowville Creamy milk, which is produced in Pomeroy and is excellent. We buy it once a week from Greener Grocer at the North Market. I love that I know where my daughter’s milk is coming from. On Fridays, we always buy the Candied Rosemary Walnuts the Greener Grocer makes every Friday – they are amazing. The munchkin loves them!
5. It’s fun. I love meeting the farmers at the farmers’ market or the local business person I am supporting. They care about the food that I am buying. We develop relationships with them. When we go to the farmers’ market on Saturday, my daughter says we are going to meet our farmers. I love that!
Read more about the Worthing Farmers’ Market, Starliner Diner, and some great local bread from Great Harvest Bread Company.
[Photo credit: Ice Cream]
Go mama! We started eating local this year in our little rural town. We have local organic, milk, cheese, eggs, flour, veggies, honey, wine, ice cream.
The checker at the local grocery, said to me, “I don’t think this organic stuff tasted that good”.
I suggested she try some fresh LOCAL organic food.
I am mourning the end of summer though and all that fresh food.
Yes! Local is the way to go. I know, the end of summer is tough when you buy local. I want to love squash as much as I love tomatoes but I just don’t!