This is the time of year when local farmers’ markets are opening, kicking off the summer season and giving you a chance to get some amazing produce and other goods while supporting local farms. Most cities have an annual farmers’ market program, with smaller cities offering one or two markets and larger cities like Chicago hosting more than 30 markets. According to http://www.localharvest.org, a Web site that lets you search by zip code for farmers’ markets in your area, there are many benefits of buying local, in addition to supporting your local economy. By supporting local farms, you are helping to preserve open spaces; purchasing products from local farmers helps to keep them in business, and in return, this helps to protect farmland from becoming developed.

Buying local also reduces the use of fossil fuels and helps to protect the environment from harmful exhaust fumes. The site says most produce in the U.S. is picked 4 to 7 days before being placed on supermarket shelves and is shipped for an average of 1,500 miles before being sold. If the produce is imported, it’s much longer. When you buy local, however, you are receiving the freshest possible produce, often picked just hours before delivery. Most markets stay open through October, so you have several months to get out there and enjoy!