| I'm aware that I am not the first person to tell you this, | | | | farmers' market, ask them if they are certified organic |
| but it is worth repeating that greenies eat local. I am | | | | growers. You may find that your local growers do |
| not referring to eating in local restaurants, but buying | | | | practice organic farming, but for various reasons, find it |
| locally grown fruits and vegetables; although, some of | | | | difficult to get certification. Talk to them about how |
| your best local restaurants will serve locally grown | | | | fertilize their produce and what kinds of pesticides they |
| produce because they know that they are the best in | | | | use. Chances are you will find that they stay away |
| quality and taste and are the freshest. | | | | from chemicals of any kind. |
| Many people may wonder why not promote organic | | | | Greenies eat local not only because the food is |
| foods here? Organic foods are foods that are grown | | | | healthier and tastes better, but it also is helping the local |
| without any chemical pesticides. That is a good thing; | | | | economy, and in these tough times, wouldn't you rather |
| problem is, much of the foods in your local store | | | | be helping a local farmer than some big corporate |
| labeled 'organic' are not locally grown and have | | | | farm in Chili?? Buying from your local farmers' |
| travelled perhaps hundreds, if not over 1,000 miles to | | | | market(s), you will also be able to get to know the |
| get to your grocery store. | | | | people who grow your food and build a rapport with |
| Think about it, a crate of lettuce that has traveled from | | | | the farmers. People who are fervent about what they |
| the west coast to the east coast has used 60 times | | | | do are always willing to share their knowledge and in |
| the amount of energy to get to your store than is | | | | turn teach you about something that is fun and |
| actually in the lettuce itself. Not being very green is it? | | | | interesting to learn about. |
| Also realize that the longer it takes produce to get to | | | | *Hint: Talk to your favorite restaurant and ask about |
| you, the more of its nutritional value is lost. That crate | | | | their policy on buying local produce; you may find they |
| of lettuce loses almost 50% of its vitamin C in the first | | | | are more than willing to tell you where they shop and |
| 24 hours after being picked, and 50% of the flavanols | | | | this my friend, is a gem of knowledge. Not only may |
| if it is on the road for a week. Flavenols? Those are | | | | you find a new farmers' market, you may be able to |
| heart disease and cancer fighting agents. | | | | pick the brain of your restaurant's chef about your |
| Typically, locally grown produce travels and average | | | | favorite recipes. |
| of 70 miles. | | | | Greenies eat local for a variety of reasons. You may |
| Does that explain why I am promoting local over | | | | not be green about everything in your life, but shouldn't |
| organic here? And see, the kicker is, most locally | | | | the quality of your food and supporting your local |
| grown food is also organic. When you are at your local | | | | community be important to you? |