Why is eating local food important

Why is eating local food important

Several perspectives will stand in a positive light if we invest our time and money in buying local products-above all, locally grown food.

Local farms and small family businesses will highly appreciate if we buy their products and on the other side we will know exactly how it’s been grown, with or without pesticides. The community will be supported and money will flow within it. (1)

Small businesses usually don’t use pesticides; plants can be easily controlled and maintained because they don't occupy large space. Such farms will grow vegetables and fruits of higher quality. They are harvested at the right moment, not before, as it is usually done in order to be packed and send far or saved for the other season. Harvesting and consuming at the right moment gives full potential and we are collecting the top amount of vitamins from it. In addition, vitamins taken at this time are those which we need for the incoming days. Pumpkins, carrots, and other vegetables enriched with vitamin A will help us build preserves which will be used later in months where is less sunlight available. Fall season is by far the richest with all kinds of products and we should use these benefits. Markets are full of pumpkins, apples, eggplants, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, etc.. (3)

Ripening agents are usually used for veggies and fruits to manipulate with the ripening of veggies and fruits. Yet, we know little to non about them. Here is just a short description to review: “ Ethylene gas, acetylene gas liberated from calcium carbide, and ethephon are some of the commercial ripening agents used successfully in the trade and they have been widely studied for their effectiveness on initiating and accelerating the ripening process and their effect on fruit quality and health-related issues.” (4) Only now we find out more about how different plant hormones and ripening agents can affect human and animal health as well as the whole environment. If we consume plants at their peak of ripeness, it is less likely that we will consume some of these dangerous substances.

Eating seasonally will put our minds in line with our bodies-meaning we will be prepared for all the incoming challenges (mental and physical). There is a whole little science behind but here we could discuss only a fraction of it.

List of September’s ready to eat veggies and fruits:

-apples, artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, bilberries, blackberries, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celeriac, celery, chard, chestnuts, chilies, chives, cob nuts, coriander, courgettes, cucumber, damsons, elderberries, fennel, french beans, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce & salad leaves, marrow, mint, onions, oregano, pak choi, parsley, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, shallots, sorrel, spring onions, sweetcorn, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms. (2)

Usually, markets are held during weekends and this is the time when weekly purchases are made. Another perspective is that such operating keeps and generates businesses within the community. Often this is the major problem is a small towns-people leave in search of better opportunities and jobs but in fact, most of them would stay if there is more money flow.

Permaculture is a huge trend these days. Many people enjoy spending their time in growing plants, with no additional chemicals to spoil the nature’s way. Growing different products allow them to exchange some of their extra goods.

After all these efforts, more love, more attention, more colorful, tasty vegetables and fruits become-and more we should appreciate them.

"Seasonal food is fresher, tastier, and more nutritious than food consumed out of season. ... Also, unlike out of season produce which is harvested early in order to be shipped and distributed to your local retail store, crops picked at their peak of ripeness are also better tasting and full of flavour." (3)

References:

(1) https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/why-eat-seasonally

(2) https://www.hubbub.org.uk/eating-seasonally

(3) https://foodprint.org/eating-sustainably/real-food-encyclopedia/

(4) International journal of food science: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfs/2019/2520179/