1. Eating local means more for the local economy. A dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy.

2. Locally grown produce is fresher, often picked within 24 hours of purchase. Produce in the supermarket has been in transit or cold-stored for days or weeks. This freshness affects both taste and nutritional of your food.

3. Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.

4. If you are concerned about genetically-modified foods, you can select local farms that grow food from heirloom seeds. And you can support organic practices in your region.

5. Eating local is better for air quality and pollution. Produce sold in supermarkets has traveled an average of 1,300 miles from farm to shelf, which greatly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.

6. Buying local food keeps us in touch with the seasons. By eating with the seasons, we are eating foods when they are at their peak taste, are the most abundant, and the least expensive.

7. Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story. Whether it's the farmer who brings local apples to market or the baker who makes local bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.

8. Eating local protects us from bio-terrorism. Food with less distance to travel from farm to plate has less susceptibility to harmful contamination.

9. Local food translates to more variety. Local farmers are free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables that would probably never make it to a large supermarket.

10. Local food just plain tastes better. Ever tried a tomato that was picked within 24 hours? 'Nuff said.

Courtesy Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance

Resources:

Local Harvest is a website about local farming. This site features a farm, restaurant and farmer’s market finder for any community in the U.S.

“The Future of Food” is a film about genetically-modified food and alternatives

“The Real Dirt on Farmer John” is a film about the birth of Angelic Organics, one of the first CSA’s in the country.

"What Will We Eat?" (26 min.) is a primer for general audiences and health activists on the local food revolution. Available on the Local Harvest website.

The "100-Mile Diet" was started by a couple in Vancouver, B.C.