Guest Blog: Three Reasons Why We Should Shop Local

Thank you for this guest blog from Faith at ehealthinformer

Shopping for groceries locally is a simple change that can bring big improvements to your life. It is often healthier, more environmentally friendly and supportive of your community. In today’s article, we’ll be exploring these reasons in more detail, in hopes you can see why it’s not only better for you, but also better for everybody if you buy locally-sourced food.

1. Healthier Selection

I’m sure you’ve noticed it, but when you’re in the local supermarket or a farm shop, the organic and local sections seem to stock amazing looking fruit, vegetables and meats. Compared to the processed, cheap and frozen stuff that’s shipped in from abroad or mass-produced, the local stuff just jumps out at you. It’s a gut feeling and instinct we get when we look at what’s available, yet not all of us act on these feelings.

Locally sourced food isn’t treated with chemicals to sustain itself via long-distance travel; it’s honest, full of goodness and promotes happiness (previous blog here). We know what goes into the goods. Therefore, there’s less room for unhealthy or harmful additives and ingredients.

‘Picked this morning’ super healthy food from your local farm shop

2. Environmental Friendliness

This is a huge reason why shopping locally is a good idea. I think you’ll agree it’s in all of our interests to save the planet, since it’s the only place we have to live. However, flying apples from England to South Africa to be waxed and polished, to then be flown back to England to be sold is awful for environmental health and really quite mad.

Sourcing local food leaves out long-distance travel and freight, meaning environmental impact. Local farmers have to adhere to stricter guidelines and policies as opposed to farms in foreign lands that have looser regulations. You can help save the planet simply by shopping for groceries in local food shops!

3. Support Your Community

Lastly, through shopping at a local farm shop, you help contribute to your community. Food shops operating and functioning with local logistics and produce indicates their business is located in Britain, meaning it adheres to our tax rules. Money spent in local farm shops helps create jobs, build the community, serve the community and encourage farmers to grow more as they supply people in your immediate society with good food. All meaning better health and well-being for all.

Was this grown in the UK then food polished in South Africa?

Low paid wages in Britain’s largest supermarket chains means huge sums of taxpayer’s money go into topping up supermarket staff earnings via benefits and tax credits. Is this something you want to support? Local farm shops are run ethically and morally. They have a community feel to them since that’s precisely how they operate.

Shopping locally might mean making a few sacrifices, such as reducing the amount of tropical fruits or relying on different vegetables during the winter, but these pale in comparison to the benefits shopping locally bring to you, your community and the entire planet.

Author bio: Faith is a health and tech blogger over at ehealthinformer. She tries her best to bring awareness to the benefits of shopping locally to support environmental health and local communities.