I read several interestintexts about the importance of supporting and strengthening local businesses and family farms that produce or sell high quality goods (including of course also a certain percentage of high uality goods they have purchased elsewhere, e.g. exotic fruits etc.).
Why Buy Local?
THERE ARE MANY GOOD REASONS TO BUY LOCALLY GROWN FOOD
YOU’LL GET EXCEPTIONAL TASTE AND FRESHNESS
Local food is fresher and tastes better than food shipped long distances from other states or countries. Local farmers can offer produce varieties bred for taste and freshness rather than for shipping and long shelf life.
YOU’LL STRENGTHEN YOUR LOCAL ECONOMY
Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Getting to know the farmers who grow your food builds relationships based on understanding and trust, the foundation of strong communities.
YOU’LL SUPPORT ENDANGERED FAMILY FARMS
There’s never been a more critical time to support your farming neighbors. With each local food purchase, you ensure that more of your money spent on food goes to the farmer.
YOU’LL SAFEGUARD YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH
Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to choose safe food from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations. Buy food from local farmers you trust.
YOU’LL PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Local food doesn’t have to travel far. This reduces carbon dioxide emissions and packing materials. Buying local food also helps to make farming more profitable and selling farmland for development less attractive.
BUYING LOCAL IS EASY
Use websites to find a farmer, farmers’ market, farm stand, CSA, restaurant, retailer, or other local food outlet near you.
When you buy local food, you vote with your food dollar. This ensures that family farms in your community will continue to thrive and that healthy, flavorful, plentiful food will be available for future generations.
Short Circuit full text full text of Irish economist Richard Douthwaite’s book – one of the best books on creating dynamic local economies in a globalized world.
When I buy food at the farmers’ market, I know that it has not been shipped back and forth across the country. It has not been grown by multinational corporations, but by families. Most importantly, when I buy food at the farmers’ market, I meet the grower. I have a connection, an interaction, and a place to express my gratitude. [pp. 6-7] from Jenny Kurzweil’s book. Fields That Dream: A Journey to the Roots of Our Food.
In the United States, annual food sales total nearly $1 trillion. Locally sourced foods account for less than 1 percent of that figure.
Read more at:
Why Localisation is Essential to Sustainability by Richard Douthwaite
Very encouraging and meaningful indeed
Best Wishes,
Vashi