Besides the fact that everyone is telling you it’s awesome, there are actually very smart reasons why you should eat locally and seasonally.
1. It’s Fresher.
With over 40 tailgate markets in the region to choose from, eating locally grown food is fresher. Think about it: Would you rather have a plate of green beans right out of the garden, or a plate of green beans that were picked, sorted, packaged, and shipped to the grocery store over who knows how many days or weeks? Fresher foods also have the added bonus of keeping a few days longer, too.
2. It’s in Season.
When you eat locally, you eat seasonally. What does this mean? Simple: when you eat something that is in season, such as strawberries, they tastes much better than those that are unnaturally produced and packaged in a greenhouse somewhere in Anytown, U.S.A., chock full of synthetic additives that may or may not cause cancer.
In order to ensure that they don’t spoil during shipping, many fruits and vegetables are picked while immature. This can cause vitamin and nutrient loss, as well as affecting the tast and aroma.
It’s not worth the health risk when you can get them right here in Asheville, fresh from the farm.
3. It’s Good for the Environment.
When you buy local, you are being kinder to the environment. Ever driven behind a semi on the interstate? Do you keep the windows down or do you roll them up and hit that little button that recycles the air within your vehicle? What is so offensive to your nose is also not so very good for the environment. Eating local means less fumes into the air and a smaller carbon footprint on the earth.
4. It Supports Asheville’s Economy.
Eating local supports the local economy. When you buy a pumpkin from a local farmer, the money spent is kept closer to home than if you purchase those same pumpkins from a farmer across the country. This fosters the financial health of our community.
5. It’s Safer.
When you buy local foods, you know where they’ve been, so foods tend to be safer. If there is an E. Coli outbreak in the processing plant that washes a majority of the nation’s spinach, you can sleep soundly knowing exactly where your food came from.
If you want to eat local in Asheville, there are a variety of restaurants to choose from, and there is also the popular Downtown Walking Food Tour, a two and a half hour walk that takes you to local restaurants that partner with area family farms to bring you fresh fare for your palate.
