In the last 10 years Americans have seen a boom in local food markets and for good reason. While Americans continue to buy more fast food James Reimer Jersey , they still expect perfect ingredients and they are finding them.
So why are they turning to their local markets more and more? In a nutshell they want fresh, healthy produce with great flavor. There are numerous other benefits to buying local products and it would seem Americans are now rediscovering what their local growers have to offer.
FRESHER Care for fresher ingredients? Locally grown items are usually harvested 1 or 2 days before hitting the market making them significantly fresher then traditional store bought ingredients. For those folks lucky enough to live in rural areas, many of your local ingredients may be available to you the same day they are harvested. Produce flown in from other parts of the country or world is considerably older given that on average they travel 1,500 miles to get to your dinner table. These products may be harvested before they are ripe because of the delay in getting the product to market. Given that produce loses nutrients quickly Teuvo Teravainen Jersey , a recently harvested crop is preferred for its ripeness alone.
SAFER Local food is often safer, too. Even when it's not organically grown, small farms tend to be less aggressive than large factory farms about using chemicals. While biotechnology companies have long been experimenting with genetically altered produce, small local farmers do not have access to these seeds and most would not use them even if they did have access to these seeds. For those consumers opposed to using genetically altered produce Jaccob Slavin Jersey , locally grown produce will offer the best product.
BUILDS COMMUNITY When you go to a local market you get a chance to see the grower and talk to them eye-to-eye. You get to see their reaction when you ask them if the use chemicals. You get to see how proud they are of what their hard work has produced. And you get to see that happiness in their eyes when you support their farm with a purchase. This opportunity to meet the growers in person goes a long way in creating a sense of community and maintaining tradition in addition to supporting local growers financially.
BENEFITS OPEN SPACE & LOWER TAX DOLLAR SPENDING As we have become wrapped up in the conveniences of the corner grocer, we seem to have forgotten how valuable our farmers are to our local communities. If you grew up in a rural area, you most likely remember the vast open space and picturesque countryside the crops created. As long as the small local farms exist this open space will not be developed into commercial property. Why is this important? Aside from maintaining the beautiful landscape, it is also most cost effective for the region Brock McGinn Jersey , supports a cleaner environment and affords wildlife a greatly desirable sanctuary.
On average almost four times as much tax revenue is spent on services for a residential area then is spent on services for farms, forest or open space. For instance for every $1 collected in taxes from a residential area, almost $1.20 is spent on services to support that area. Conversely, only $.34 is spent to support rural area for each dollar collected. Because farms contribute more taxes then they require in services Sebastian Aho Hurricanes Jersey , local farmers make for a surplus in tax revenue. In addition to the lower cost needed to support rural areas, they also help to clean 12-14% of the carbon emitted by vehicles and industry.
By continuing to support local growers today, you are ensuring that they will be around tomorrow. In fact more and more non-chain grocers are carrying locally grown products. They must, it's what consumers are demanding.
Try buying local flavors. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
About the author: Scott Schirkofsky is the chef and owner of At Home Gourmet. You can find more recipes Dougie Hamilton Hurricanes Jersey , cooking tips, spice blends, food and beverage articles on his highly recommended website: nd
How To Treat Constipation Bad Bowel Movement Health Articles | November 28, 2011 Constipation is an enemy to smooth digestion Jordan Staal Hurricanes Jersey , and causes great discomfort to those who suffer from it. Not only does it cause cramps and pain in the abdominal area, but can also cause nausea, fever, headache etc.
Constipation is a great enemy to smooth digestion Justin Faulk Hurricanes Jersey , and causes great discomfort to those who suffer from it. Not only does it cause cramps and pain in the abdominal area, but can also cause nausea, fever and headache. In extreme cases, constipation causes serious stomach infections and other kinds of severe problems.聽
The biggest sign or symptom of constipation is bad bowel movement. If a person is passing very hard stools Sebastian Aho Jersey Sale , or has bowel movement just once in three or four days, then it refers to constipation. The chest area feels full all the time, and the person may feel uncomfortable in moving around. The appetite also gets affected.聽
Dehydration is one of the major reasons for constipation. Doctors and medical experts constantly stress on the fact that it is important to drink plenty of water daily. The reason why they say so is because water helps in easy digestion of food. This makes the process of bowel movement easy and less painful. Ideally, one should consume at least 12-15 glasses of water in a day.聽
Another cause of constipation is having low fiber food in the diet. Fiber makes the digestion process easier Dougie Hamilton Jersey Sale , so it is important to keep consuming a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. Fresh salads comprising of green leafy vegetables act as good roughage, and are very good for the body.聽