The health benefits of shopping locally are obvious: fresh, quality, nutritious and organic goods that have come from local farmers. While many shop local for their health or the convenience, the environmental benefits are equally valuable for the health of our planet.
Shipping
An apple a day can keep the doctor away, but it can also keep emission levels high if you live too far from the orchards. Buying local/seasonal produce eliminates the use of eighteen-wheelers and all of the junk sprayed on produce to keep it looking ripe until you buy it.
No plastic, please.
You will rarely see plastic or Styrofoam at a local farmers market. When you shop at local markets, many vendors offer small, eco-friendly baskets or totes for your purchases. Instead of wasting time bagging each of your fruit or veggie choices into those annoying, suffocating plastic baggies, you can store them together in a sustainable carrier.
Less CO2
Many local markets include the sale of different meats. The meat production industry has been historically controversial for its questionable treatment of live animals, sanitary conditions, use of hormones, slaughter methods and toxic emission levels. When you purchase meats from local markets, you know the meats come from free range animals, not a large holding facility with astronomical methane levels.
Less Road Rage
Since local markets take place in an open area, you will not be at war in the parking lot of a major bulk-food store parking lot. Less time in your car means less pollution and more time to enjoy the sense of community at the market. Since you can make your purchases as you pick your items, there is even less time waiting to buy your food!
If you are looking to find a farmers market near you, use the Farmers Market comparison by FindTheBest to search and compare over 6,700 farmers markets across the nation.
Post written by Vanessa Connolly of FindTheBest, a site where you can find the best of anything from life insurance to web design software.
