Shopping Local, It's Better For You And Your Community | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Shopping Local, It's Better For You And Your Community

The benefits of purchasing local organic food and how it makes the world go round

21
Shopping Local, It's Better For You And Your Community
Unsplash

With grocery stores today, there are enough overwhelming decisions to make. Do you buy the bigger glass jar of mayonnaise or do you pay an extra dollar for the squeeze bottle with a cap? The aisles are filled with shelves stocked to the brim with fancy labels and pretty jars. They push the more expensive products to the front and tie bows on them for customers to reach down and grab with no effort. Before you go and grab the most eye-catching product, I ask you to consider one more thing. Maybe you are paying money for something that isn't even worth it and ultimately is making someone very high up, rich. Taking a few extra minutes to look past the over the top decorations and for something that might be local. Purchasing items like this might be less appealing but overall support a much better cause.

Locally produced food is something that you can make a difference with. It impacts both where you live and the people you are surrounded by. You make a connection with your own community simply by supporting the local farmers and businesses close to you. For example, fresh produce that is grown locally, provides jobs in your community. You purchasing this produce raises their revenue and as a result, they can provide more jobs. Just from small considerations, you can grow closer to the people around you.

In most cases, these local farms and businesses will donate to other places within the community whose goals are to help those in need. It's really a cycle of positivity that affects multiple groups. If you purchase produce that is locally produced and that source donates it to the food bank to a family who can't afford groceries every week, you have made an impact in helping end hunger. There are so many beneficial impacts that purchasing locally produced food can have.

If there is any convincing reason to buy organically produced food it's this one. It's so good for your body. Especially local produce, has vitamins and hasn't been sitting in boxes for days while being shipped over the Atlantic ocean. The produce and crops that are grown locally is kept far away from any sort of enhancing chemicals or pesticides. There are no risks in having any harmful chemicals in your body when you buy these products.

Buying locally produced food can be summed up by mostly positives on a large scale but, there are a few downsides. Not only does local food taste better but, it is healthier for your body and the environment. The freshness of this food is healthier than anything else sold at your grocery store and the benefits that it has on your local community are outstanding. Buying local food rather than from large corporations is how connections are made in a community to make it only grow stronger. It brings people together and gives them the opportunity to make a difference. Simply buying something small at your supermarket could help a family in your community who can't afford to have access to these food choices. It's a better choice that leads to a better lifestyle.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

548919
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

433876
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments