Buying local foods
Mary Ellis
November 16, 2014
English-099
Buying Local Produce
Have you ever wondered why the produce you find in a grocery store comes from all over the country When there are local farms that sell the same produce grown in your backyard? My family buys our produce from our local C.S.A.(Community Supported Agriculture), farmers markets, and produce stands. There are thousands of places like these across the country that get overlooked by consumers every day. An individual’s choices regarding food purchases can positively influence our world house by supporting our local farmers, reducing fossil fuel emissions and promoting better farming practices.
Supporting our local farmers is important, not only to the community that they belong to but in a larger sense. The food produced by the local farms is healthier for consumers. The nutritional value of produce declines after the initial harvest. Therefore, local food has the most nutritional value because it is so fresh. Local produce is harvested and sold more quickly so they do not contain the preservatives that are added to products shipped long distances and placed in storage. Supporting local farmers ensures future food security. Today less than 1 percent of Americans claim farming as their primary occupation (Demographics). Those who farm have very few benefits except that it is their passion. Small farmers are getting harder to find because it is so much work with little profit. Owning a farm is a business, to keep the business running you need to make a profit from your products. The average farmer only makes 10 cents on every retail food dollar (10 Reasons to Buy Local). With consumers buying directly from the farmers, they can cut out the middle man and farmers make a larger profit. This helps support the farms business and their families so they can continue to farm. Also we have to protect the land. Farmers who are not making any money are forced to sell their land giving them no control over what
November 16, 2014
English-099
Buying Local Produce
Have you ever wondered why the produce you find in a grocery store comes from all over the country When there are local farms that sell the same produce grown in your backyard? My family buys our produce from our local C.S.A.(Community Supported Agriculture), farmers markets, and produce stands. There are thousands of places like these across the country that get overlooked by consumers every day. An individual’s choices regarding food purchases can positively influence our world house by supporting our local farmers, reducing fossil fuel emissions and promoting better farming practices.
Supporting our local farmers is important, not only to the community that they belong to but in a larger sense. The food produced by the local farms is healthier for consumers. The nutritional value of produce declines after the initial harvest. Therefore, local food has the most nutritional value because it is so fresh. Local produce is harvested and sold more quickly so they do not contain the preservatives that are added to products shipped long distances and placed in storage. Supporting local farmers ensures future food security. Today less than 1 percent of Americans claim farming as their primary occupation (Demographics). Those who farm have very few benefits except that it is their passion. Small farmers are getting harder to find because it is so much work with little profit. Owning a farm is a business, to keep the business running you need to make a profit from your products. The average farmer only makes 10 cents on every retail food dollar (10 Reasons to Buy Local). With consumers buying directly from the farmers, they can cut out the middle man and farmers make a larger profit. This helps support the farms business and their families so they can continue to farm. Also we have to protect the land. Farmers who are not making any money are forced to sell their land giving them no control over what