| Do you know how far the apple in your kitchen | | | | ourselves! |
| traveled before you picked it up at the grocery | | | | There is hope. Many small farms surrounding suburban |
| store? According to the Leopold Center for | | | | communities or urban city centers have weekly or |
| Sustainable Agriculture, apples in American grocery | | | | daily farmers' markets. These markets connect |
| stores typically travel 1,726 miles before reaching | | | | regional small farmers with suburban and urban |
| your kitchen! | | | | dwellers. Check to see if there is a market like this in |
| Just think about the fuel needed to transport | | | | your community. Often times the cooperative |
| produce like this across the country or across | | | | sponsoring the market can't afford to spend a lot on |
| borders. Also think about the pollution generated by | | | | advertising so you've got to search out their location. |
| the vehicles carrying this produce. An apple a day | | | | Try your local business improvement association or |
| may keep the doctor away but the fumes | | | | municipal office to see if they might be able to help. |
| accompanying it will definitely hurt us! | | | | It really is enjoyable to mix up your food shopping |
| The impact on the environment is one issue, but we | | | | routine by purchasing your fresh produce and meats |
| also have to worry about preservatives that are | | | | at your local farmers' market. In many cases you can |
| used to keep this apple nice and crispy during its | | | | negotiate prices (which is fun). I also find your fellow |
| very long journey to your grocery store. To keep | | | | shoppers are generally in a happier frame of mind |
| produce fresh during the long haul across continents | | | | when they're perusing farmer's booths than when |
| and oceans, produce companies have to use chemical | | | | they're steering a shopping cart through crowded |
| preservatives. It is well documented that | | | | aisles at the grocery store. |
| preservatives are hazardous to human health. | | | | If you're like me and treasure the rural areas |
| So what can we do? Well, you can try your best to | | | | surrounding your urban region, then you also likely |
| buy local produce whenever possible. Even though | | | | feel the sense of sadness each time a farm is sold |
| America has lost more than 5 million farms (USDA | | | | for yet another residential or commercial |
| figures) since 1935, there are still many farmers who | | | | development. Here's your chance to do your bit to |
| have generated markets for themselves in the cut | | | | save the "family farm" (and help curb urban sprawl). |
| throat world of global competition. | | | | Find out the location of your nearest farmers' |
| Since produce from your local farms are traveling | | | | market, note the dates that they are open and plan |
| very short distances there is less pollution created in | | | | to be there bright and early to get the freshest, |
| their transport. There is also less packaging and | | | | tastiest food choices of the day! Your family will |
| processing involved which also helps to lessen the | | | | thank you, you'll be supporting your local economy |
| amount of garbage we put into the environment and | | | | and helping to save the environment. |