Top 10 Reasons to Buy Local

1. LOCALLY GROWN FOOD TASTES BETTER
Food grown in your own community was probably picked within the past day or two. It's crisp, sweet and loaded with flavor. Several studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles. In a week-long (or more) delay from harvest to dinner table, sugars turn to starches, plant cells shrink, and produce loses its vitality.

2. LOCAL PRODUCE IS BETTER FOR YOU
A recent study showed that fresh produce loses nutrients quickly. Food that is frozen or canned soon after harvest is actually more nutritious than some "fresh" produce that has been on the truck or supermarket shelf for a week.

3. LOCAL FOOD PRESERVES GENETIC DIVERSITY
In the modern industrial agricultural system, varieties are chosen for their ability to ripen simultaneously and withstand harvesting equipment; for a tough skin that can survive packing and shipping; and for an ability to have a long shelf life in the store. Only a handful of hybrid varieties of each fruit and vegetable meet those rigorous demands, so there is little genetic diversity in the plants grown. Local farms, in contrast, grow a huge number of varieties to provide a long season of harvest, an array of eye-catching colors, and the best flavors. Many varieties are heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation, because they taste good. These old varieties contain genetic material from hundreds or even thousands of years of human selection; they may someday provide the genes needed to create varieties that will thrive in a changing climate.

4. LOCAL FOOD IS GMO-FREE
Although biotechnology companies have been trying to commercialize genetically modified fruits and vegetables, they are currently licensing them only to large factory-style farms. Local farmers don't have access to genetically modified seed, and most of them wouldn't use it even if they could. A June 2001 survey by ABC News showed that 93% of Americans want labels on genetically modified food - most so that they can avoid it. If you are opposed to eating bioengineered food, you can rest assured that locally grown produce was bred as nature intended.

5. LOCAL FOOD SUPPORTS LOCAL FARM FAMILIES
With fewer than 1 million Americans now claiming farming as their primary occupation, farmers are a vanishing breed. And no wonder - commodity prices are at historic lows, often below the cost of production. The farmer now gets less than 10 cents of the retail food dollar. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the middleman and get full retail price for their food - which means farm families can afford to stay on the farm, doing the work they love.

6. LOCAL FOOD BUILDS COMMUNITY
When you buy direct from the farmer, you are re-establishing a time-honored connection. Knowing the farmers gives you insight into the seasons, the weather, and the miracle of raising food. In many cases, it gives you access to a farm where your children and grandchildren can go to learn about nature and agriculture. Relationships built on understanding and trust can thrive.

7. LOCAL FOOD PRESERVES OPEN SPACE
As the value of direct-marketed fruits and vegetables increases, selling farmland for development becomes less likely. You have probably enjoyed driving out into the country and appreciated the lush fields of crops, the meadows full of wildflowers, the picturesque red barns. That landscape will survive only as long as farms are financially viable. When you buy locally grown food, you are doing something proactive about preserving the agricultural landscape.

8. LOCAL FOOD KEEPS YOUR TAXES IN CHECK
Farms contribute more in taxes than they require in services, whereas suburban development costs more than it generates in taxes, according to several studies. On average, for every $1 in revenue raised by residential development, governments must spend $1.17 on services, thus requiring higher taxes of all taxpayers. For each dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space, governments spend 34 cents on services.

9. LOCAL FOOD SUPPORTS A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AND BENEFITS WILDLIFE
A well-managed family farm is a place where the resources of fertile soil and clean water are valued. Good stewards of the land grow cover crops to prevent erosion and replace nutrients used by their crops. Cover crops also capture carbon emissions and help combat global warming. According to some estimates, farmers who practice conservation tillage could sequester 12-14% of the carbon emitted by vehicles and industry. In addition, the patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds and buildings - is the perfect environment for many beloved species of wildlife.

10. LOCAL FOOD IS ABOUT THE FUTURE
By supporting local farmers today, you can help ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow, and that future generations will have access to nourishing, flavorful, and abundant food.

Adapted from ©2001 Growing for Market

Understanding Organic Labels

Walk down any grocery aisle nowadays and it's not hard to find an organic offering. But what do those labels really mean?

In October 2002, organic farmers and processors began using the "organic" seal with the adoption of the USDA's National Organic Program standards. This program officially established requirements and a certification process for the use of the word "organic" on food and other agricultural products. Standards include:

• A requirement that the land used to grow organic food go through a three year "transition period" to make sure the crops are free of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
• A prohibition on the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, irradiation and sewage sludge. In addition, no genetically modified organisms can be contained in anything labeled organic.
• Organic standards specify that animals may only be fed vegan diets, with no animal by-products. (As an added benefit, this eliminates the risk of certain diseases, such as mad cow.)

To clear any confusion, organic labels are broken into four categories:

• 100 Percent Organic: Must contain only organically produced ingredients.
• Organic: Defined by the USDA as containing 95 percent of organic ingredients.
• Made With Organic: Must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. These foods cannot bear the USDA seal.
• Some Organic Ingredients: Products with less than 70 percent organic ingredients are only allowed to list the organic items in the ingredient panel on the side of the package. These also cannot display the USDA seal.

You are now free to smartly shop.