Why Local Food?

Cargill Inc. is voluntarily recalling more than 840,000 pounds of ground beef patties distributed at Sam's Club stores nationwide after four Minnesota children who ate the food developed E. coli illness, a Cargill official said Saturday. [read the story]

The Cargill recall comes on the heels of Elizabeth, New Jersey-based Topps Meat Co.'s recall of 21.7 million pounds of ground beef amid E. coli concerns. The recall - the second-largest beef recall in U.S. history - caused Topps on Friday to announce that it's going out of business.

Why buy local? Food is fresher and tastes better when grown locally. Food shipped long distances from other states or countries sits in the supermarket freezer before you put it in your freezer. Knowing where your food comes from and how it is grown or raised enables you to buy from farmers who avoid or reduce their use of chemicals, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified seed in their operations. Buying locally strengthens your local economy. Buying local food keeps your dollars circulating in your community. Get to know the farmers who grow your food.