By Caity Hall

Buy local, people say – but why? Whether as a business or a consumer, there are compelling reasons for it – including benefitting you, your community and the environment. And if you own a food business, more and more customers are willing to pay higher for sustainable offerings. If you’re still unsure about adopting new shopping habits, here are five facts worth considering:

1. Local food is better for you

Fresh produce loses nutrients rapidly, so the sooner it goes from the farm to your stomach, the more nutritional benefits you are going to get. A case of tomatoes that were picked and packaged onto a truck over a week ago will be far less nutritious than produce still growing on a farm two days prior. Locally grown food is also more likely to have ripened naturally, while foods that travel long distances are often picked before they are ripe and, consequently, before their nutrients have been able to fully develop. Take blackberries, for instance – a study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that the levels of health-promoting anthocyanin pigments more than quadruple as the fruit becomes fully ripe.

2. It just tastes better

Eating produce when it is fresh is not only better for you, but tastes better, too. Local farmers are true experts of their crops and the seasons, and they know when to pick produce so it’s at its tastiest. For restaurant owners, that means better tasting dishes and happier customers who’ll keep coming back for more. It also means getting to be creative with the menu as the seasons change.

3. Strengthens the economy

Buying from local businesses means you are investing your money back into your community. The result is more local jobs be created, the potential for improving existing infrastructures and more opportunities overall.

4. Supports and builds community

When you buy from a local farmer, you are directly supporting them, their family, their business, and their livelihood. When local farmers can support themselves, they can then retain and expand their farmland (and encourage aspiring farmers to invest in land, too). More farmland benefits the environment through carbon sequestration, preserving open spaces, and encouraging biodiversity through careful farming methods.

Building relationships with local farmers will also give you a better understanding of the food you are buying and ensure you are always getting a superior product. When sustainably conscious customers ask you about the ingredients you choose, you will be able to provide them with a positive answer on what your menu has to offer.

Want to get LEAF certified? Find out how it works here.