Have you ever tasted a homegrown tomato fresh off the vine and wondered why it taste so much better than one from the supermarket?

Produce sold at the supermarket typically has to be harvested before being fully ripe. This allows it to hold up in storage and the long distances it may need to travel before arriving on the shelf. The average item of food in America has travelled 1500 miles from the farm to your plate, contributing significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. The varieties of vegetables being grown also must have a focus on yield, uniformity, and ship-ability over flavor and nutritional value. While it is great we have produce available year round, it is consequently a product that is less nutritious and less flavorful.

But if you live in the Midwest this time of year, you are in luck. Produce season is just beginning! Over the course of the next few months we will have everything from locally grown cucumbers, tomatoes, and corn, to peaches and apples available to purchase. Farmers Markets are a great option to find local produce, but if you aren’t available the times the market is open, it is likely there are many other options not too far from home. With a quick google search, you may find a farm stand or orchard is closer than you realized.

Not only is local food great for your body and taste buds, but for the planet as well. Eating food that’s grown where you live helps reduce greenhouse gasses emitted during transportation, packing, and refrigeration of commercial produce. It requires less packaging and preserving materials in general. Small local farms are also more likely to have a larger diversity of crops on their farms and use more sustainable practices.

If you want to do your taste buds, body, and the planet a favor, start to incorporate more local foods into your diet.

Local food sustainability challenges - pick one or more you can try this produce season!

• Try a type of vegetable you have never had before.
• Expand beyond fruits and veggies and try a local meat, cheese, or bread, etc.
• Try a new apple variety you have never heard of before.
• Make a meal with only local items.