You probably feel good about your purchase when you go to the local farmers market for fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables. It’s nice to know that the food you eat is as nutritious as possible, but there’s another reason you can get great satisfaction out of your commitment to going organic. Whenever you go to your local store to buy products, did you know that you are supporting local farmers and the environment? Fresher food and a cleaner planet are just two of the reasons you and your family enjoy only organic food.
Organic farming is often a family affair, with all family members working together to help run the business. There are far fewer family farms in the United States than there were in the days when such a thing was common rather than unusual. But now, with the additional demand for organic food from savvy consumers, the number of organic farms to produce these foods and farmers markets as an outlet to distribute fresh produce has grown by leaps and bounds. There are also roadside stalls in some areas, as well as shopping cooperatives and even your local grocery store. Organic farmers sell the different foods they grow in all these places and are finding that business is booming.
This type of support tells farmers they are on the right track and gives them an added incentive to ensure that the best quality produce, eggs, beef, pork, poultry, cheeses, and honey. It helps these farmers stay in business and can help prevent rural communities from slowly drifting towards the city limits. Sustainable organic farming will ensure that the family-owned and operated farm that produced the tomatoes you enjoyed in your salad can continue to grow and sell organic produce for years to come.
Local farmers also help keep their area’s economy stable, as their food money stays in the area rather than in the coffers of a large conglomerate. If your local farmers market is a farmers market only, then you are getting the freshest food money can buy. You are buying your food directly from the farmers who grew it. These farmers decide the prices you pay, and they are generally less than what you would pay for organic food at a grocery store.
You can be sure that these items, the most popular of all organic foods sold in the United States, are truly organic, as these farmers must follow certain rules and regulations in order to claim that their products are organic. And remember: “natural” foods are not the same as organic foods! The best organic food of all is the one that is grown closest to where you live. You are helping both the farmer and the environment when you cut out the middle man and buy straight from the source!
