In October 2008, participants in the national Eat Local Challenge committed to eating only locally grown food—traditionally defined as a 150-mile distance from home—for 30 days. The challenge reflected a growing appetite among American consumers to know where their food comes from, how it’s produced, and what its carbon footprint might be.

As the bounty of summer growing season hits farmers markets and stores nationwide, now's a great time to eat more locally grown foods. Since you'll likely come home with loads of fresh produce, learn the best ways to store all those fruits and vegetables; that story has advice even for folks who have given up their refrigerator.

Why go local?
Fresh, local fruits and vegetables may retain more nutrients than produce shipped hundreds of miles. Estimates for how far American produce travels from farm to fork range as high as 1,500 miles, and the “food miles” for grocery store purchases can be up to an estimated 27 times higher than the food miles for local food. Local farmers also typically grow regional varieties, rather than produce bred to withstand shipping and long store shelf life. Not surprisingly, some consumers also claim that local food tastes better.

Local food can help cut back on climate-changing carbon-dioxide emissions and help protect air, water, and soil quality. About 10 percent of all commodity shipping is dedicated to food and agricultural products. Because local food travels shorter distances, it also typically requires less packaging and refrigeration, and if unprocessed, can save even more energy.

Buying local supports rural and urban farmers alike and helps to create a stronger local economy. It’s estimated that the U.S. loses an estimated two acres of farmland every minute to development—that's 1.2 million acres annually—and farms closest to urban centers are the most threatened. When you buy local food, you “vote” with your food dollars to help nearby farmers remain profitable and keep their land in agriculture.

If you grow some of your own food, you can transform suburban or urban spaces, whether a backyard lawn or a pocket-size perennial patch, into gardens that produce bounty for your table. Doing so can not only be rewarding, but good for your health and your wallet. For apartment dwellers, growing herbs in a windowsill or tomatoes or squash on a balcony or terrace can be a good way to start.