Many people often don’t take the time to head out on a Saturday morning to go buy groceries from the local Farmer’s Market. Oftentimes, we like to sleep in or simply buy our groceries from a grocery store that’s open 24/7 rather than shopping at the Farmer’s Market. However, buying vegetables from local farmers at market stands instead of the produce section at your favorite grocery store has more benefits than you would probably expect.
Buying food locally is healthier and tastier.
Because the fruits and vegetables you buy from local farmers are picked when they are at their ripest, they not only look better than those you will find at the grocery store – they taste better too.
Oftentimes produce in a grocery store travels hundreds of miles on planes or trucks before it arrives in your cart, which means that these fruits and vegetables are picked several weeks before they are ripe. The long journey to the grocery store also rids produce of most of its nutrients, so when it finally makes it to your plate most of the nutritional value has been lost. Buying locally prevents this loss of nutrients and ensures a high quality taste. The fruits and vegetables at grocery stores also have a greater chance of containing pesticides that local farmers typically do not use, which is another factor that affects the nutritional value of the produce.
Choosing to buy locally is also a decision that helps support the economy of your city and the families of local farmers. Your purchase is reinvested into where it came from rather than a major corporation or grocery giant that is not directly giving back to your community. At the Waco Downtown Farmer’s Market, programs such as SNAP, WIC, and Double-Up Food Bucks help to make local, organic produce accessible for all members of our community.
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