If you live in an area, that has locally produced food for sale, it would be in your best interest to start taking advantage of it. Not only is the produce better, but you’ll also be helping the sustainability of our world and your pocket.
Price
Seasonally produced local food is typically always cheaper. The reason is there’s normally a surplus of said product. When a product is not in season, that mean it needs to be cultivated elsewhere and shipped to different locations. It’s the act of shipping that adds additional costs to the product. Suddenly, the cost of the produce you want has to pay for drivers, unloaders, and gas. When you buy locally, there’s no middle man to take a cut.
Freshness & Nutrients
Speaking of shipping, it’s an easy way to guarantee the produce you’ve just bought is not as fresh as it could be. Shipping produce can take days, whereas, locally produced produce only takes hours to reach the market.
Since the locally produced food takes less time to reach the market, it means they’ll have more nutrients in them. As soon as a fruit or vegetable is picked, it starts a process called respiration. Basically, the fruit or vegetable starts breaking down its own proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Not only does it lose nutritional value but also flavor.
Flavor
Some fruits or vegetables that need to be transported a longer distance need to be harvested early or frozen, so that it can make the trip. When this happens, the produce may take longer to ripen and not produce or develop their full potential for flavor.
Seasonally locally produced food that are harvested or picked at the height of their ripeness. This makes for the most flavorful and nutrient rich food possible. The most important thing about food is that it tastes good, especially for children.
Information
We’re living in a world, where information is becoming very important. We’re becoming much more health conscious about what we’re putting into our bodies. Local growers can tell you exactly how they grew their crops.
You don’t need to be afraid of buying something that may or may not have been genetically modified, artificially enhanced or sprayed with harmful chemicals. You’ll be able to ask questions and get real answers, cultivating a relationship with a real source, rather than with a clueless stock boy at the grocery store.
Variety
It’s easy to walk into the grocery store week after week and buy the same old things, because they are pretty much always there. At a farmers market (find local farmers market in US here), you’ll really see all the different seasonally grown produce. This will give you a chance to try new things and expand your taste.
You Deserve It
There are plenty of more reasons to buy seasonal and locally produce food. I could go on about supporting the local economy and leaving a smaller carbon footprint. However, at the end of the day, it’s about quality. When you buy seasonal and locally, you’re ensure that you and your family get the best, and after all don’t you deserve it?
