Why is it important to buy/eat locally grown foods?
Buying local is good for you, good for the local economy, and good for the planet!
Reason #1: You get exceptional freshness and help protect the environment. Buying from local farms helps you get products that are fresher, and have traveled much shorter distances overall from farm to fork. This promotes cleaner air and water by reducing the carbon footprint, since it takes less energy to transport products over shorter distances.
Reason #2: You're supporting independent/family farms and strengthening the local economy. Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your own community. When you buy local, you help to ensure that the benefits of our farms survive for many years to come. In Maryland, if every household purchased just $12 worth of farm products for eight weeks (basically the summer season), over $200 million would be put back into the pockets of our local farmers.
Shop at your local farms, farm stands, farmers' markets, wineries, grocers and markets that stock genuine local products (ask if the products are grown locally).
State/Regional
Future Harvest CASA's Amazing Grazing Directory
In Southern Maryland, find local farmers' markets in SMADC's Farmers' Market Guide
The following websites were supplied by the Agricultural Marketing Professionals and key Agencies in Maryland:
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
Calvert County Department of Economic Development
Charles County Department of Economic Development
Maryland Department of Agriculture
Montgomery County Farm to Table
Prince George's County Fresh.Local.Fun
Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Prince George’s, St. Mary’s Counties)
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