by Melanie Albert, Nutrition & Wellness Expert, Author, Speaker, Founder & CEO Experience Nutrition
Excerpt from book, “Enjoy Food & Life. 9 Ways 90 Day Step-by-step action plan for healthy eating & living.”
“With farmers’ markets and CSA, I’ve tried new-to-me veggies such as purslane, striped beets, purple carrots and all kinds of leafy greens,” Melanie Albert, Experience Nutrition
9 Ways 90 Days: Farmers’ Market Berkeley, CA
Great Reasons to Eat Local
- Locally grown produce is fresher, tastes better and lasts longer – It’s farm-fresh, just picked, unlike food in our grocery stores that travels an average of 1,500 miles.
- Eating local keeps us in touch with the seasons – We eat foods when they are at their peak taste, most abundant and importantly foods that grow where we live are generally what our body needs at time of the year. For instance, when it’s summer-time, much of the available food, like strawberries and watermelon tends to be light, water-rich and cooling.
- You can support your local economy.Shop at your local farmers’ market or Join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture).
- It’s better for environment – Eating local does means your food is not traveling long distances to reach you.
Find a Farmers’ Market Near You
As demand for locally grown fruits and vegetables has increased, so too has the number of farmers’ markets across the nation. After 18 years of steady increases, the number of farmers’ markets across the country now registered with the USDA is 7,864, compared to 1,744 in 1994.
To find a local farmer’s market, visit the Local Harvest site at www.localharvest.org/farmers-markets/.
Join us on Facebook and post a photo of your favorite farmers’ market.