When it comes to organic foods there may be some uncertainty on what that may exactly mean. It’s usually just associated with millenials who can afford to buy it, like how they can afford $10 avocado toast. These people have the right idea, though, because organic food, as well as locally grown food, is more important than you might realize.

Organic food means more than just free range livestock. It encompasses the entire production of the food. From the soil to planting, harvesting, packaging and consumption. Organic food isn’t just healthier for you, it’s healthier for the environment. Organic farmers use less land than conventional farmers, but can still earn up to 100k more than these conventional farmers while being extremely more environmentally friendly. Yes, it’s more expensive. But compare a few extra bucks to how much good you’re actually doing. For one, you’re actively supporting giving livestock real lives, instead of just cooping them up in pens of their own feces all day until they’re sent to the slaughterhouse. You’re helping yourself maintain a healthier diet. If you buy from local farmers markets you are supporting local farmers, which is almost as important.

Buying food locally is crucial, too, for a sustainable food system. The main reason being that it vastly cuts down on “food miles” which are the miles the food travels from the farm to the shelf. Cutting back on that pollution is huge. Almost as importantly, though, is supporting local farmers. Today’s society rarely gives thought to where our food comes from, which allows for big companies to run such egregious farms and such maltreatment of their animals. But when we support local farms and buy from local farmers markets, this gives us a face to put to the food. We see the person who is actually producing this food. Adding this back into our lives changes our perspective on the food we consume (“You are what you eat”). We realize the farmers who have been here for generations are trying, just like us, to put food on the table. And when we support local farmers, we in turn support the local economy.

Buying food from the local farmers market is not too difficult a task in comparison with how rewarding and beneficial it can be. If you think there are none around you, I encourage you to take to Google and quickly search for local food, you’d be surprised. Eating organically and locally is one of the easiest ways to benefit the environment without making a big life change. I recommend at least trying it and see what you think.