The best thing we can do to eat healthier and to bolster our local economy is to buy locally grown food. At our house, groceries are a big part of our bills. So, for us, groceries are an important place to spend locally.
Buying locally grown food…
- is environmentally friendly, whether organic or not.
- limits the use of fossil fuels and the pollution associated with those fuels.
- bolsters the local economy.
- is fresher and tastier.
Local is a relative term. It can mean from your own community, elsewhere in your county, or simply from a shorter distance. Buying apples grown on the Western Slope found at a Fort Collins farmer’s market as opposed to apples from Washington state in a Colorado grocery store localizes our food source.
There are many to find local foods. This time of year outdoor Farmer’s Markets are starting to close for the season, but indoor winter markets continue to sell local foods into the Spring. Some sell seasonable produce like apples and cider while others have entire produce sections.
Community Supported Agriculture farms are striving to have a longer, productive season. CSA farms offer memberships and subscriptions to support farms and farmers. Many are finding ways to extend their members weekly allocations of produce and other foods. Some CSA’s offer working memberships; you can help on the farm and grow the food.
The numbers of producers of locally grown foods is growing. In our region, local producers are easy to find. Support our local economy with your grocery bill.