During my extended visit in my native Dutch island of Curaçao, I explored with fruits and vegetables that are naturally, organically and locally grown on the island.
Why is it better to eat foods that are grown locally?
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Local crops have more nutrients and flavors. Food is about energy. Once they are plucked from their origin, they lose energy by the hour. You obtain health benefits if they are grown locally and when they are fresh. This also means that they have been recently exposed to natural sunlight and soil, which means energy! They lose energy when they are imported from far-away countries and sit in distribution centers before it gets to your stomach. Moreover, food grown in distant locations has the potential for food safety issues at harvesting, shipping and travel. Look for farmers around your area to obtain fresh picked fruits & vegetables to obtain maximum benefits. When crops are grown locally, they are picked at their peak of ripeness versus being picked before it’s due in order to be shipped to you. This makes so much difference when you are eating and ingesting the nutrients.
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Local crops grow in season for a reason. When you eat crops that are in season they are full of flavor and taste better than the ones that have traveled far and picked before they were ripe. If it grows in season it means there is a reason! Nature is clever when it comes to crops. Certain food grows in certain seasons and environment for a reason. A coconut grows in tropical environment and is filled with potassium and electrolytes to provide you with the nutrient you need for that tropical environment. Watermelon for example, grows in the summer and in warm tropical weather to give your body the nutrients, liquids and vitamins it needs to survive that warm tropical temperature. Same goes with certain winter foods that helps your body and skin prepare for the cold season. Butternut squash for example is one of the most popular winter-squash vegetables. It is filled with vitamin A, which is a powerful natural anti-oxidant that is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of the skin, especially as the air becomes drier. It is rich in B-complex group of vitamins and has a similar mineral profile as that in pumpkin (another winter vegetable) containing iron, zinc, copper, calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. They are a good source of dietary fiber and excellent source of health promoting amino acid, tryptophan that is good for the brain!! Certain vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains grow locally all year around our environment for a reason. The best way to obtain the most nutrients is to eat them fresh, local and at the time they grow to obtain the full benefits that our bodies need during that time of year.
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You can build trust & connection with local farmers. Why is this important? You get to connect with the plants, fruits, and vegetables. When buying local crops you have an opportunity to ask your farmer directly what practices they use to raise and harvest the crops. It helps to build trust since you know where your food comes from and who grew it, trusting and feeling more comfortable with what you are eating which is important for the mind/body connection. You also have the opportunity to verify if they are indeed using organic soil and crops to verify that they are free of pesticides, and other chemicals.
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You are giving back to nature and your environment! Local crops support the local community & economy. Which means we invest back in the local economy and we give back to nature, which always gives in abundance to us. The money that is spent with local farmers and growers is invested back with businesses and services in the community. By purchasing locally grown foods you help maintain the environmental community as well.