Thirty reasons to buy food sourced from smaller local farms
Local farms are within about 100 miles of the point of purchase.
Smaller farms are less than 500 acres and ideally under 100 acres.
1. Preserves and creates local jobs and businesses.
2. Gives local farm kids a way to stay on the family farm.
3. Reduces farmworker exploitation through transparency.
4. Increases the pool of local knowledge and expertise of food and farming.
5. Keeps more of our food dollars in the local economy.
6. Supports a business model of higher-margin farm products, less dependent on subsidies.
7. Helps revitalize rural communities.
8. Builds bridges between urban and rural people.
9. Preserves local farm and food traditions and culture.
10. Protects scenic beauty adjacent to urban areas.
11. Creates genuine stories about our food.
12. Promotes transparency around organic and sustainable farming practices.
13. Preserves farmland and open space, and provides alternatives to urban sprawl.
14. Protects local surface and groundwater quality, for drinking and recreation.
15. Enhances biodiversity and pollinator habitat in the local area.
16. Preserves rich farm soil for future generations.
17. Provides opportunities for local gleaning.
18. Lets more consumers know their farmers personally and build trusting relationships.
19. Allows non-farmers, and especially children, to learn about the realities of farm life.
20. Supports laboratories of local farming innovation.
21. Facilitates the spread of growing knowledge to local gardeners.
22. Increases transparency about animal welfare practices.
23. Focuses on pastured, not confinement, livestock, with its strong health benefits.
24. Provides food which is as fresh as possible.
25. Supports a food system which offers a wide variety of healthy vegetables.
26. Promotes seasonal eating and a natural rhythm to the year.
27. Creates stronger food security if a disruption in national food distribution system occurs.
28. Protects against weather/disease-related farm events in California, Florida, Mexico, etc.
29. Fights climate change, by reducing transportation-related greenhouse gases.
30. Emphasizes food varieties with flavor, not transportability.
Spread the word!
Local farms are within about 100 miles of the point of purchase.
Smaller farms are less than 500 acres and ideally under 100 acres.
1. Preserves and creates local jobs and businesses.
2. Gives local farm kids a way to stay on the family farm.
3. Reduces farmworker exploitation through transparency.
4. Increases the pool of local knowledge and expertise of food and farming.
5. Keeps more of our food dollars in the local economy.
6. Supports a business model of higher-margin farm products, less dependent on subsidies.
7. Helps revitalize rural communities.
8. Builds bridges between urban and rural people.
9. Preserves local farm and food traditions and culture.
10. Protects scenic beauty adjacent to urban areas.
11. Creates genuine stories about our food.
12. Promotes transparency around organic and sustainable farming practices.
13. Preserves farmland and open space, and provides alternatives to urban sprawl.
14. Protects local surface and groundwater quality, for drinking and recreation.
15. Enhances biodiversity and pollinator habitat in the local area.
16. Preserves rich farm soil for future generations.
17. Provides opportunities for local gleaning.
18. Lets more consumers know their farmers personally and build trusting relationships.
19. Allows non-farmers, and especially children, to learn about the realities of farm life.
20. Supports laboratories of local farming innovation.
21. Facilitates the spread of growing knowledge to local gardeners.
22. Increases transparency about animal welfare practices.
23. Focuses on pastured, not confinement, livestock, with its strong health benefits.
24. Provides food which is as fresh as possible.
25. Supports a food system which offers a wide variety of healthy vegetables.
26. Promotes seasonal eating and a natural rhythm to the year.
27. Creates stronger food security if a disruption in national food distribution system occurs.
28. Protects against weather/disease-related farm events in California, Florida, Mexico, etc.
29. Fights climate change, by reducing transportation-related greenhouse gases.
30. Emphasizes food varieties with flavor, not transportability.
Spread the word!