Why does shopping local matter?

Food that is allowed to fully ripen, travel minimally and be consumed within days of harvest just tastes better…and is better for you! 

But there are plenty of other important reasons to support your local food businesses. Local producers depend on being able to sell direct to consumers, when they sell through distributors, their lower prices eat into an already slim profit margin.  When you buy from local farms and small businesses, you are keeping more of your dollar within our community.  You know that your purchase directly supports a local business owner and their employees.  When food stays local, there are less emissions from transporting it across the state, country or even the world. Supporting local farmers ensures that we can help preserve agricultural land within our own community, which means less development and more open space.