How Buying Local Can Make an Impact

Nowadays, it’s common for people to buy their food from large retail stores, and only one-eighth of what we eat is local. Eating local produce not only has health benefits, but can help the economy, the environment, and lives around the world. Here are the top reasons you should buy local produce and support local businesses. 

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Health!
Many big corporations use pesticides or other bad chemicals on their produce. Produce starts to lose nutritional value after it is harvested. It takes 24 - 48 hours for local produce to hit the shelves, while the produce you buy at a large store can take any where from one week to nine months to get to the grocery store. Buying organic produce at farmers markets or locals stores is a much healthier alternative for you and the environment. ​

It helps support the economy!
When you support local businesses, you aren't supporting corporations and consumerism. Many workers who work for big name stores are treated unfairly and when you make the decision to buy locally, you are no longer encouraging the cruel treatment. According to 'Small Buisness Saturday Statistics,' out of every $100 you spend at a local store $68 stays in your local economy, while if you spen $100 at a large store only $43 stays in your community. 
Many the meat brands that you can purchase at stores treat their animals horribly. They are left with little to no room and are living in awful conditions. Many local brands raise their produce much more fairly. Documentaries such as Food, Inc. show the cruel treattment of animals in the meat industry. 

"Think globally, act locally." - Paul McCartney