Many people do not ever consider going to a local market or the local section of 
their neighborhood Whole Foods Market; however, there are countless benefits from eating locally grown foods. Locally grown foods support the community economy, the environment, and are healthier for you.
Supporting your community and it’s economy is easy when you buy from local vendors. By buying products from local farmers, your money remains in the community and supports the wages of people working in your area from farmers to the local department store. According to Sustainable Capitol Hill, “it is important to remember that while some things may seem slightly more expensive to buy locally and organically, in the end, eating locally, seasonally, and organically is much less costly to our community; our air, water, energy, and natural environment; and the safety of our children’s food supply”.
By buying food grown in your community or surrounding neighborhoods you are also supporting the farmland and environment that you reside in. Eating locally grown food has the ability to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions as well as emissions by agricultural companies since you does not have to travel as far to get you. Small farms also more readily adopt environmentally friendly practices when it comes to growing your food. Another environmental benefit of buying local food is that it helps to conserve green space. When farmers are successfully selling the products they are less likely to sell their land to developers, therefore, keeping more green space in your community.
A spoonful of local honey every morning can dramatically improve your allergies for it gives your body a chance to get used to the local pollen and allergens in the area. This is just one health benefit of buying local food products. They also contain more nutrients than well-traveled produce because it has a shorter shelf life, meaning less nutrients die while sitting on shelves and traveling to grocery stores. Local food is also almost always organic which means that there are no pesticides to harmful toxins used in the production of the food. Overall, local food contains more nutrients and are therefore better for you.
Communities such as Wayanad have benefited from their Organic Kitchen Garden in many ways but most importantly by having a source of nutritious, organic produce! Head out to your local farmers market and start buying local today!
For those who live in the Mainline Philadelphia area, here’s a list of Farmers Markets in the Ardmore Area:
Ardmore Farmers Market
Open: Mon-Fri 8am to 7 pm; Sat 8am to 6 pm; Sun 8am to 4 pm
Address: Anderson & Coulter Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
Di Bruno Bros
Open: Mon-Fri 9 am to 7 pm; Sat 8am to 6pm; Sun 8am to 4pm
Address: 120 Coulter Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
European Food Worx
Open: Mon-Fri 8 am to 6:30pm; Sat 8am to 6 pm; Sun closed
Address: 2533 Haverford Road, Ardmore, PA 19003
