Lately all the rage has been organic food and supporting local farming. Special labels and farmers markets boast local products and healthier food. But some may be wondering, what is the advantage to all of this? As it turns out, this type of food buying can actually bring about significant positive effects on the environment. When you purchase food locally there are several factors that you eliminate from the process. Food that is grown or produced within your own town does not require the extensive travel of that of goods from far away. Therefore, there is a significant reduction in fossil fuel consumption, which helps save this nonrenewable resource and reduces pollutants produced by the burning of fuel. Buying local also reduces fossil fuel consumption by reducing the need for industrialized food processing. Not only is processed and packaged food less healthy, sometimes containing harmful chemicals, it is also a huge consumer of natural resources. Another advantage of buying local is the contributions it makes to the economy of your town, city or state. There are also advantages to the local environment because private farmers typically practice better conservation and land preservation methods.In addition to seeking out locally grown food products, buying organic meat and produce is another environmentally and health conscious decision. Locally grown products do not necessarily mean they were grown free from the use of pesticides or other synthetic materials; this is denoted by an organic label. In the United States, the National Organic Program is a federally run program that establishes national standards for what constitutes an organic product. The regulations for organic goods don’t just include production, but also processing, delivery, and sale. A USDA organic seal is used to label products that are made with at least 95 organic ingredients. When you purchase and consume organic products, not only are you supporting production of a product that does not subject the environment to harmful chemicals and materials, you are also preventing yourself from personal exposure to these toxins.

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