Locally grown and harvested products can be purchased directly from the farmer at Farmers Markets, Farm Stands, U-picks, and by joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. Locally grown products can also be bought at restaurants, co-ops, and grocers that buy directly from farmers, ranchers, and fishermen.  When you buy direct from local farmers, your dollars stay within your community, and strengthen the local economy. More than 90¢ of every dollar you spend goes to the farmer, thus preserving farming as a livelihood and farmland. This is important because as mergers in the food industry have increased, the portion of your food dollar paid to farmers has decreased. Vegetable farmers earn only 21¢ of your dollar; the other 79¢ goes to pay for marketing, distribution, and other costs.

ORGANIC VS. LOCAL

Although eating organically is healthy, the best thing for the environment is to focus on eating locally first. The average food item travels about 1,500 miles before reaching your plate. What does this mean? It means eating locally grown food can help reduce the amount of energy and CO2 emissions released into atmosphere. Support local farmers by buying locally grown food at farmers market and organic food stores.

THE FACTS

When you buy direct from local farmers, your dollars stay within your community, and strengthen the local economy.