Imagine sitting down to dinner each night knowing that the ingredients on your plate hold the key to your health, the health of your local economy, and the health of the planet. There is a sense of empowerment, autonomy, as well as community that comes along with joining a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program or shopping at your Local Farmers Market. Every meal becomes a way to connect with our local food ecosystem, and allows us to take another step on the journey toward optimal health. And you’re certain to find that truly fresh ingredients simply taste better!
Nutrient Density
When you receive a CSA Box from a local farm, chances are that food is reaching your fridge, and potentially your dinner table, within 24-48 hours of harvest. This quick turnaround from field to fork ensures that you’re getting the full benefits that a broad array of vegetables can offer. Comparatively, the average produce from a typical grocery store can be stored for weeks or even months before it hits the shelves. As soon as produce is picked, the nutrients it contains begin to degrade. You may have made a healthy choice in buying leafy greens like spinach, but there is a significant reduction in vitamins, especially vitamin C, by the time it is actually consumed. Joining a CSA or shopping at the Farmer’s Market is a great way to be certain your produce is delivering its peak potential for your family.
Support Local Economies and Food Security
How far do you imagine the average meal travels to reach the grocery store? Shockingly, that number is often as high as 1,500 miles! This distance can be far greater if we are eating out of season, consuming produce literally from across the globe. Buying directly from a farm not only supports the local economy, it also helps cut down on the massive fossil fuel emissions brought about by shipping food such great distances. After supply chain disruptions and panic buying left grocery store shelves empty during the early days of the Covid-19 Pandemic, many families found joining a local farm’s CSA to be a source of comfort, as their membership ensured a steady supply of fresh produce each week. With the average grocery store only holding about 3 days worth of food at a time, knowing where your next healthy meal is coming from can be crucial in uncertain times.
Environmental Conservation
When it comes to the bigger impact that our food choices can have, supporting local farms and ranches affect environmental conservation in your own backyard. 175 acres of farmland are lost to development each hour in the U.S. With this land goes not only potential for feeding our growing population, but also wildlife habitat, buffer zones around streams and rivers, and potential employment opportunities in rural areas. Rather than donating to well-intentioned environmental groups, wouldn’t it make just as much sense to feed your family nutritious food from a local farm, and thereby preserve green spaces just down the road?
Where will your next meal come from? If your goal in feeding yourself and your family is to make a positive impact on your own health, the health of your community, and the health of our shared natural ecosystems, consider looking close to home for fresh ingredients.
Are you ready to take the next step in your health journey? Book a FREE discovery session today and become a part of the Flourishing Traditions Family.
