Flourish: Benefits of eating locally grown produce

Five benefits of choosing locally grown produce

No doubt you’ve heard that eating a produce-rich diet can help you reduce your risk of many serious diseases. Summer in Minnesota is a great time to take advantage of the fresh, local produce available at your grocery store or local farmer’s market. Here’s some benefits of doing so:

• It’s fresher. Locally grown produce spends less time in transit so it comes to you at the height of freshness.
• It’s more nutritious. Fresher means more nutrients have been retained. 
• It’s safer. There’s less handling and fewer chances for contamination.
• It’s easier on the environment. It leaves a smaller environmental footprint because it isn’t traveling far.
• It supports local growers and farmers. Buy local!

Source: Medical West

Note: If you participate in the SNAP-EBT program, you can use “Market Bucks” at some farmers’ markets in Minnesota. Find out more about Market Bucks