Local produce

You've probably read an article or heard a newscaster recommending that we buy local produce. It really is a great idea, and of course, summer is the best time to do it.

Just-picked, local produce is better for you because it is fresher. The nutrients in fruits and vegetables decrease over time, so a tomato that was picked this morning is more nutritious than a week-old one that's been trucked across the nation to your supermarket. Local produce just might be cheaper, too, since the family who grew it doesn't have to pay fuel costs to transport it.

I live in a semi-rural area, so family-run produce stands are commonplace. Just a mile from my house I can buy cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, and corn. Cantaloupes and watermelon will be ready shortly, and fall potatoes will follow soon after. I enjoy pulling off into the cornfield and choosing fresh veggies for supper, and it makes me feel good to support local farmers. And let's be honest – fresh produce just tastes better!