"Did you know that the typical carrot travels 1,838 miles to reach your plate? How much money, time and energy does it use during its journey from seed to table, and through how many hands does it pass? It's almost impossible to calculate the REAL COSTS of food production, processing, packaging, shipping, and storage, but there is another number that DOES make sense.
If every household in Pennsylvania spent $10 a week on regionally produced food, $48 million dollars would stay in the local economy each week. That's about $200 million every month, and nearly $2.5 billion per year. Spending money on local food not only sustains our economy, it provides us with greater nutrition, preserves family farms, generates job opportunities and beautifies the rural and urban landscape. And don't forget that locally grown foods are likely to be fresher, tastier, and safer for you and your family."
So get out there and find yourself a farmer - what could be better than brown eggs, local meat, and during the growing season fresh fruits and vegetables? Start planning now for next summer. Visit www.buylocalpa.org to find farmers and farmer's markets in your area.
The information above is borrowed from PASA, the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture.
You opened my eyes! Guess it's always been so convenient in the grocery store. I'm going to try my hardest to visit the local vendors for produce, especially during the summer. Thanks for the info.
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