Eating farm fresh and organic has become way more important to use in the last few years and there is good reason why. The first reason is because we have become so much more aware of what big farms and processors are doing to our food and we realize it is not really in our best interest.
The second reason why farm fresh and organic foods are becoming more popular is because it helps local economies. Buying pre-packaged food from a big name grocer puts very little money back in your local economy. Buying from local farmers markets and farms keeps $0.80-$0.90 of every dollar in your community.
Eating local does not just end with buying from local farmers though even restaurants are getting in on the action. Many restaurants now prominently feature food they are getting from local farmers and change menus seasonally to be sure they are creating dishes with the freshest produce available year round.
Another reason people are making the switch is what they are finding out is that local food tastes better. The taste difference can be contributed to a couple of things. The first is processing. When a head of lettuce has to come to your grocery store in Alabama from Columbia there is a whole lot of chemicals that need to be put in it to make sure by the time it hits your store it still “looks” fresh. When you are buying food locally shelf life does not have to be nearly as long so less preservatives and chemicals are needed.
The other reason local food tastes better is because it is fresh. Produce that has been picked recently and not modified has the entire flavor that food was intended to. If you take two pieces of the exact same kind of produce, one bought at a grocery store and one at a farmer’s market you will taste a HUGE difference and probably will only want fresh produce from there on out.
The other benefit that eating local and buying local has is you can ask questions about your food. A farmer loves to talk about his crops. So you will not have any problems finding out about farming practices, chemicals and other things you really need to know about your food to guarantee its safety. I have found these guys are also great on giving you tips on how to really maximize your home gardens which just gives you more fresh food available for your family.
There are a few ways to get locally grown produce. The first is at farmer’s markets checks to see if you have one in your area. A farmer’s market is going to offer you the biggest variety of options to choose from. Many are even starting to get into the organic meat market and you are finding cow and other meat farmers set up right next to the guy who has oranges from his personal grove.
Farmer’s markets also offer a great learning experience. If you want to learn more about your food these are the people to be talking to. They live and breathe crops and are excellent sources of information about food quality and safety.