Locally grown and raised foods allow you to:

    Eat fresher, better tasting, and healthier food  - Quit simply because local food spends less time in transition from field to market, it retains more flavor and nutrients that determine its overall quality. Local direct market produce if often harvested the day of purchase.
    Enjoy seasonal produce and regional varieties – Eating locally means eating in concert with the growing season. As the season changes, so does the availability of fresh produce. If you eat local, you’ll be trying new things throughout the year.

    Help support farming neighbors  - Local growers depend on direct market retail to sustain operations. Increasing costs and competition with corporate production mean it’s harder than ever for a small farm to stay in business. Use your limited food dollars to support the family farms you know.

    Sustain our rural heritage  - Farming has long been a way of life in this area, and farms have been passed from generation to generation. Family farmers are a central part of our communities.
    Protect our regions natural beauty by preserving farmland – The Pee Dee and Coastal Plain are blessed with abundant natural resources. Support for local growers ensures that such assets are maintained for the benefit of our economy and communities.
    Encourage sustainable, environmentally - friendly agricultural practices.
    Strengthen the local economy – Our markets do more that provide access to fresh fruits and veggies. Each market serves as a “agritourism” activity that brings the community together in support of the local economy. Markets impact, adjacent businesses and local entrepreneurs well beyond the farm.
    Build a connection with the producers of your food - You can put a face and a farm with local food. You'll learn about the seasons and weather through their effect on crops, and you'll learn about the work of farming from your discussions with the grower. When you buy directly from the farmer more of your money goes back to the farm. And if you shop at a farmers market or subscribe to a CSA, you'll meet your neighbors and participate in a community event.

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