This time of year is not only beautiful but a great time at the farmers market. There are still summer fruits and vegetables and just the very beginning of fall produce as well. It is the peak harvest time around US and there are so many places to get fresh food around the city. I recently read this blog post about an “Eat Local Challenge”.
Because this time of year is so good for finding plenty of fresh and locally grown foods, I think it is a great idea.
Eating locally isn’t as hard as it might seem. With farmers markets and co-ops there are many opportunities to find local food. The co-op is a great place to go for ingredients you might not find at a farmers market like flour, spices, or some specific herbs. At my co-op they label the local products with a green local sticker to make it easier when shopping.
Buy and eating local is not only go for you, it is good for the environment and the local economy. I always try eating as local as I can to make sure the money I am spending stays in my community and within the state. The distance to sell and purchase is shorter when eating locally, making the truck and/or transportation costs and emissions significantly lower.
Fruit and coffees are often the only products I buy that are not locally grown, but in those cases I always look for “fair-trade” products. Fair trade products help the farms, often in third world countries get a better deal for their products. By purchasing fair trade you are giving the farmers more control of their product and their futures of protecting the environment where they grow. I believe that nearly everything should be fair trade, we should be treating farmers with respect for their product and letting them take charge of their deserved money.
I know my family won’t have a problem doing this challenge, but I want to challenge all my family, friends, and readers as well. I pose the challenge to go 30 days eating only foods grown, caught, or raised within your state. Try educating yourself and your family on the nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of eating locally sourced foods.
Give it a try, even if you can’t complete the challenge, try eating as locally and fresh as possible. When produce is picked and eaten at the height of ripeness it not only is delicious, but it also is packed with nutrients to make you feel great!
Julie
Because this time of year is so good for finding plenty of fresh and locally grown foods, I think it is a great idea.
Eating locally isn’t as hard as it might seem. With farmers markets and co-ops there are many opportunities to find local food. The co-op is a great place to go for ingredients you might not find at a farmers market like flour, spices, or some specific herbs. At my co-op they label the local products with a green local sticker to make it easier when shopping.
Buy and eating local is not only go for you, it is good for the environment and the local economy. I always try eating as local as I can to make sure the money I am spending stays in my community and within the state. The distance to sell and purchase is shorter when eating locally, making the truck and/or transportation costs and emissions significantly lower.
Fruit and coffees are often the only products I buy that are not locally grown, but in those cases I always look for “fair-trade” products. Fair trade products help the farms, often in third world countries get a better deal for their products. By purchasing fair trade you are giving the farmers more control of their product and their futures of protecting the environment where they grow. I believe that nearly everything should be fair trade, we should be treating farmers with respect for their product and letting them take charge of their deserved money.
I know my family won’t have a problem doing this challenge, but I want to challenge all my family, friends, and readers as well. I pose the challenge to go 30 days eating only foods grown, caught, or raised within your state. Try educating yourself and your family on the nutritional, economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of eating locally sourced foods.
Give it a try, even if you can’t complete the challenge, try eating as locally and fresh as possible. When produce is picked and eaten at the height of ripeness it not only is delicious, but it also is packed with nutrients to make you feel great!
Go for it eat locally, I challenge you!
Go Green and Stay Keen,Julie
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