Live Healthy Live Well

Health organizations recommend eating at least 2½ cups of vegetables and fruits each day to decrease the risk of cancer and other diet related diseases as well as to help maintain weight. According to the 2013 State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, Ohio adults on average are only consuming about half the vegetables and fruits their bodies need. In fact, 40% of adults reported eating less than one serving of fruit per day, and 26% reported eating less than one serving of vegetables per day.

So why are vegetables and fruits so good for us? Fresh vegetables and fruits are packed with antioxidants, nutrients and fiber, yet are low in calories. One of the best ways to get fresh vegetables and fruits is from local farmers markets. There are many advantages to buying locally. Buying local produce benefits the consumer, the economy and the environment.

Foods grown and sold locally are more likely to be fresh. Many growers pick their produce right before selling, allowing the food to have the fullest possible flavor. Buying local foods keeps dollars in your own community, supporting the local economy. Additionally in many cases, you are supporting the strong American tradition of the family farm. Buying local also helps the environment. Because these foods are sold close to where they are grown, they do not have to be shipped long distances, diminishing the environmental impact.

To find farmers markets in your community, check your local Ohio State University Extension office in your county or your local chamber of commerce and ask if they have a local foods guide. Some great websites to check out to find local farmers markets in your area include:

The Ohio Market Maker: Connecting willing markets and quality sources of food from farm and fisheries to fork in Ohio. http://oh.marketmaker.uiuc.edu/

The Ohio Farm Bureau: The Our Ohio Buying Local Directory connects customers to the farms and farmers that produce local foods, plus agritourism opportunities, plant nurseries, wineries and Christmas tree growers. http://www.ourohio.org

What fresh vegetable or fruit are you going to buy local this week?

Sources:
Buy Local Buy Fresh http://www.buylocalbuyfresh.net/displaysection.php?section=About

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/downloads/State-Indicator-Report-Fruits-Vegetables-2013.pdf

Local Harvest http://www.localharvest.org

Written by: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County, carter.413@osu.edu.
Reviewed by: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, barlage.7@osu.edu.