7 reasons to choose local food

Local food generally means food produced within a particular geographical area, roughly 50-100-150km from where it is consumed. This means that all food produced in Estonia can be considered local.

You can buy local produce in shops, at markets, from roadside stalls, and directly from farms or farmers. And remember to stock your freezer with Estonian produce for winter so you can enjoy homegrown food even in the depths of winter!

7 reasons to choose local ingredients

* Better flavor. Food grown nearby can be left until it is almost fully ripe before being harvested. When you choose local ingredients, you can be sure they have ripened naturally and are fresh, giving them a richer flavor.

* Eating local food means eating with the seasons. Take strawberries: although you might want to eat them all year round, they are at their best when you can buy them from a local farmer. In season, they have a much fuller, better flavor than the berries on sale in winter, which have traveled hundreds of kilometers and were picked before they were even ripe.

* Local food contains more nutrients. Local food reaches your table sooner than food that comes from far away. Time is the deciding factor when it comes to nutrient content. The sooner produce from a field or garden is eaten after harvesting, the more nutrients it retains. That alone is a very good reason to choose Estonian produce.

* Buying local food supports the local economy. When you buy Estonian produce, you support Estonia’s economy, which in turn gives Estonian businesses greater stability. This helps preserve jobs and pay wages. By buying local produce, you support Estonian businesses and the Estonians who work there.

* Eating food brought in from far away contributes to air pollution. Food from other countries reaches Estonia mainly by road, transported in large trucks that pollute the air with exhaust fumes and clog the roads.

* You know who the producer is. Another typical feature of local food is that its producer is identifiable: consumers are told who produced it and where they are based.

* You know how it was grown. When you buy food directly from a farmer, they can tell you exactly how your food was grown. This adds considerable value to the food because it is clean!

Buy food grown or produced in Estonia to support fellow Estonians, your own health, and your country’s well-being!

Author: Janika Aavamägi

Source: Armudu

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