Do you know what the advantages of buying local food are? You have probably heard a thousand times that buying local food is better than non-local food. But, have you ever thought about why? In this post, we will discuss the health,
economic, and environmental benefits of buying locally produced food.
But, first, let’s see what exactly is “local food”? The new policy expanded the definition of local food. It now includes the food produced inside the province in which it is sold or the food that is manufactured within 50 kilometres of the province of origin.
On a bigger scale, we might say local food, which is what grows inside your country or province. Or it might come from local farmers, or it may be cultivated
on a small scale on community-based farms. Whatever definition is used, the primary goal is to get the benefits of locally produced food. People have almost lost touch with nature in today’s hectic society. Most of us are unaware of which fruits and vegetables grow in which season. There can be no action if there is no awareness, so first learn the benefits of local and seasoned foods.
Why Buy local? For health benefits
Local food may provide you with a variety of health benefits. For example, It is high in nutrients. It is naturally ripened, which means that food that travels a long way to deliver to another location is harvested early, even before it is mature.
Because our bodies need different nutrients depending on the season, food produced in the winter provides higher health advantages when consumed throughout the winter. For example, you may consume Vitamin C at any time of
the year, but our bodies require it during the fall and winter months to help us fight the flu. On the other hand, some fruits, such as nectarine, peach, and more, are full of other vitamins, which are essential for us during the summer and spring to help us protect ourselves from sun damage.
According to studies, the nutrients in foods decrease after harvesting. This means that the longer they remain on the shelves or in transportation, the fewer nutrients the items will have. For example, spinach and broccoli lose the majority
of their nutritional value after just a few hours.
The majority of the time, local foods have no or little chemicals. To meet the food demand and to supply off-season food, large corporations use chemicals, gases, and edible film coating to protect the food.
Related: The obvious harms of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Why Buy Local? Environmental benefits:
Buying locally grown food has various environmental benefits. The imported food arrives at the market after travelling hundreds of km. We use the phrase “food mile” to describe how far the food has travelled from its origin to where it is sold and consumed. Travelling is associated with the use of fossil fuels. The longer food travels to the selling place., the more fossil fuels it uses. This type of travel contributes to carbon emissions and air pollution.
Buying locally may help to preserve green space. Farmers would be less likely to sell their farms to developers if they could get enough consumers for their production.
Buying local food corresponds to the “farm to fork” principle. That means less food would be wasted since there would be less transportation, less packaging, shorter shelf lives, less refrigeration.
Related: From Waste to Leather; The Mango
Why Buy Local? Economic benefits:
Buying from locals strengthens the country’s economy. since the earnings farmers produce are shared within the community. Another significant economic advantage of purchasing local food is job creation. When money is spent locally, it circulates locally, and this recirculation leads to additional economic activity. It will encourage entrepreneurship because young people enjoy experimenting and coming up with new ideas. Once they are involved in the locally produced food sector, they are more likely to make it economical and sustainable since their understanding of the various parts of the business will drive them to be interested in the better welfare of the community and the environment.
Related: Are we living through a food shortage and what to do?
Why Buy Local? Social benefits
Along with the major benefits described above, there are also smaller advantages to purchasing from locals. In today’s isolated environment, local farmers’ markets provide you with the possibility to socialize. You would get to know the
neighbourhood, or you may volunteer and learn about how your food is produced.
Bottom line:
Today, we live in an unpredictable world; at the very least, we should be aware of where our food comes from and how it was produced. Eating what’s in season can also help you fight and avoid illnesses more effectively. Today’s youth is full of motivation and confidence to take risks, but we must guide them in the proper route. To raise awareness about buying local food, hold seminars and activities at schools and colleges. Also, include children in farming and food production so that they may understand the technique and improve it in the future. At Green Schools Green Future, we teach children about sustainable gardening and how food should be grown without the use of harmful pesticides; this
practice will make them aware of good and unhealthy foods from an early age.
Source:
https://longevitylive.com/anti-aging/why-fruits-and-vegetables-in-season-are-a-better-choice/
https://foodrevolution.org/blog/why-buy-local-food/
Blog Image Credit: Caio From Pexels
Written By Samreen Ishaq
