Decades ago Long Island – my home and the home of NCP –
teemed with farms, which supplied a growing New York City with fresh fruits and
vegetables and livestock. More recently, suburban sprawl has led to much of the area being
filled with homes. However, there are still many family farms within a few
minutes’ drive from almost any place on the Island.
There
is nothing better than to take a drive out to the eastern part of Long Island and
stop at the many roadside stands or farm stands along the way. You can find a
wide variety of tasty local crops and goods. (And if you didn’t know, Long
Island has a very respectable wine market!)
There
are many reasons to buy local, according to the University of Vermont
Extension:
- Locally grown food tastes and looks better. The
crops are picked at their peak, and farmstead products are “hand-crafted” for
best flavor.
- Local food is better for you. The shorter the
time between the farm and your table, the less likely it is that nutrients will
be lost from fresh food.
- Local food supports local families. The
wholesale prices that farmers get for their products are low, often near the
cost of production. Local farmers who sell direct to consumers cut out the
middleman and get full retail price for their food – which helps farm families
stay on the land.
- Local food keeps taxes down. According to
several studies by the American Farmland Trust, farms contribute more in taxes
than they require in services, whereas most development contributes less in
taxes than the cost of required services.
- Local food benefits the environment and
wildlife. Well-managed farms provide ecosystem services: they conserve fertile
soil, protect water sources, and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The farm
environment is a patchwork of fields, meadows, woods, ponds and buildings that
provide habitat for wildlife in our communities.
Do you
have farmer’s markets near you? And if do, what are your reasons for buying
local food?
So which products do consumers really care about buying local? According to The Nielsen Company, produce tops the list, as 58% of consumers state that buying local produce is important to them. The majority of consumers also say local is important when it comes to bakery, eggs, and food service.
As
for which consumer groups feel strongest about buying local, low-income
consumers are more likely to say that buying local is extremely important to
them across all products compared with the general population, according to
Nielsen. Young families say buying local is extremely important to them
for their deli items, bakery, produce, as well as their shelf-stable and frozen
goods. And Millennials say local matters most in the frozen department.
ALSO!
Please remember if you purchase any fresh produce without a barcode, to make
sure and use the appropriate listing in the Barcode Reference Booklet if you use a
handheld scanner, or if you have the NCPMobile
App, the Non-Barcoded Items listing in the app.
So if you get a chance, visit a local farm stand and enjoy
the freshness! Have a great weekend!
Best Regards,
Taylor
