Did you know that by purchasing localized food you can actually help reduce Carbon Emission? Localizing food cuts traffic and therefore fuel consumption. According to estimates such as the one found at the Center for the New American Dream the food we consume daily has traveled between 1200-2500 miles. A vast amount of energy is consumed for this transport in the freezing, refrigerating, and trucking.
In Ventura County, eating locally grown products can support area farms and agriculture. Locally grown food not only taste better, but also do not have the added wax, preservatives, or chemical ripening agents.
Other advantages of locally grown food:
- Local growers often use fewer pesticides than large commercial farms. This avoids polluting water
supplies, is healthier for the environment, and reduces human health risks.
- A healthy local food system, including small family farms, helps create a thriving local economy. Buying produce locally helps these farms survive.
- Small local farms preserve precious open space and connect urbanites with the real sources of our food.
- Large commercial farming systems depend heavily on the use of synthetic chemicals, which often expose farm workers and their families to high levels of pesticides.
Source: Center for the New American Dream
The farmers in Ventura County have formed a committee within the Ag Futures Alliance of Ventura County to set standards for a local label. This committee is concentrating on developing a label that you will find on all products grown in Ventura County as you shop in local supermarkets. We could see these labels in early 2008 in our local grocery stores. (Ventura County integrated waste management)
So, residents of Ventura County it's time we supported our farmers and farm lands. It 
is time we ate County grown products and took care of what we put inside our bodies. It is time we took care of our environment.
If you are not sure of the location of your local Farmers Market well, check out Buy Fresh Buy Local to find the nearest farmers market in your area.
Mana~
Here in Asheville, we have at lest 10 restaurants featuring locally-grown food. Besides the produce I pick from my own garden, nothing could be fresher...thanks for this post. I have FLAGGED it and sent the URL on over recommending it to be featured at Localism.com
Mana,
There are some things that taste so much better when you get them fresh. We have a local farmer's market in town that just closed for the winter - it is fun to visit the farmer's market and talk to the person who grew the food you are buying.
Mana,
Great post, I love that you support the local farmers. I always try to buy local it always taste so much better! :)