Most of the food we buy at a grocery store was picked too early, even before it was ripe to prevent it from spoiling quickly. Then between traveling an average of 1500 miles and sitting on a shelf, it may be 2 weeks after it was picked before we see it.
Produce that is locally grown is freshly picked, often that day, and picked after it was ripened on the vine. From a nutritional perspective, the nutrient content is higher and there are more live enzymes to help us digest and utilize these nutrients. The ratio of nutrients that are grown in foods from an area/region are the ideal nutrient ratios for the people that live there and for the conditions they live in. From a taste perspective, fresh, vine-ripened food tastes better and sweeter. Buying locally grown can save you money and the environment by omitting the cost of transportation, fuel emissions and minimizing packaging. I always recommend buying organic food, but if supply is limited, locally grown foods are still safer because small farms don’t typically use GMO seeds and will often use less pesticides. And besides, what better way to support your local economy?