Reasons to Eat Local Produce

The Shandon Newsletter published an article in the summer newsletter on the top 5 reasons to eat local produce verses produce from grocery stores that come shipped in from all over the United States. Here are the top five reasons to eat local!

1. Local foods are fresher: Locally grown fruits and vegetables are usually sold within 24 hours of being harvested.
2. Local foods have less enviromental impact: The average fresh food item travels 1,500 miles to get to your supermarket's grocery aisle; buying locally produced food elimintaes the need for all that fuel-guzzling transportation.
3. Eating local means more for the local economy: When you buy direct from local farmers, your dollars stay within your community, and strengthen the local economy.
4. Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons: By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are most abundant and least expensive.
5. Local foods promote food safety: The fewer steps there are between your food's source and your table, the less chance there is of contamination.

Are you wondering where you can get that delicious, home grown  produce? Go to the 701 Whaley Market! They are open Saturday's from 8 am - 12pm. If you would like to find out more about the market visit www.stateplate.org