While local food is now mainstream, it’s an important trend that should never fall out of style. Consumers are seeking out fresh, local options for produce and beyond, and restaurants are sourcing from local farms and growers as part of a blossoming farm-to-table movement.
While there’s no formal definition of the term “local” in regard to food, it often refers to food cultivated within 100 miles of its consumption. It offers consumers the opportunity to formulate their own meaning of the term -- and it often goes beyond geography.
Eating local allows for an opportunity to develop a deeper relationship with food. Taking the time to shake the hand that feeds you and thinking more about your values surrounding food can help you slow your pace and be more intentional about what you put in your body. It can also help build meaningful human connections as you support the local economy, secure fresher, safer food and stand up for something you believe in.
Beyond the basics, eating local allows you to know exactly where your food comes from. Asking more questions about your food and the practices used in raising and harvesting it can provide a sense of ease and belonging, knowing that the food made only a short journey from the farm to your plate. Local crops are picked at the peak of ripeness allowing for the most delightful seasonal flavors, rather than being harvested early and shipped somewhere else.
In supporting your local food efforts, you are not only getting back to your roots, but are helping to preserve green spaces and pride in your community – a beautiful thing in the world of technology and the daily grind. To find out more about how to eat local, check out edibleBOSTON or MassGrown and Fresher!
Written by: Danielle Laurin, Wellness Workdays Dietetic Intern. Learn more about Wellness Workdays and our wellness program offerings by downloading our brochure.
Sources: 1. Local Harvest 2. Slow Food Boston 3. Mass Audubon