By Nneka Nwogwugwu
South Africans have started eating locally sourced food to ensure Climate Smart city.
According to a report by All Africa, it is widely believed that eating locally sourced food is better for your health, there are many other benefits to consuming what’s grown or raised in our backyards.
Many believe food grown locally tastes better and lasts longer – and they have the peace of mind of knowing where their food comes from and how it was grown.
Some produce, especially fruits and vegetables, lose nutrients during transportation and storage, making local options usually more nutritious. Because smaller farmers don’t have the pressure to bulk supply, they can leave their food on the vine to ripen longer, giving you better quality for your money.
Locally grown foods don’t have to travel long distances to reach you, so you’re actually improving air quality and reducing pollution. You’ll also notice that local food producers don’t have to vacuum pack and double-seal their goods so they remain fresh for as long as possible, hence less packaging helps reduce the amount of plastic we discard. Supporting local farmers who use sustainable practices also benefits the environment and helps reduce your carbon footprint.
Finally, for others, supporting community economies and fostering relationships is important. Small businesses benefit more from spending money locally rather than patronising large businesses that tend to prioritize profits over employees and customers. By doing this you create and maintain farming jobs in the local community, which allows the economy to thrive by creating a positive spending loop within the community.
For instance, a farm in Philippi, about 30 minutes from Cape Town, delivers fresh produce to the city’s grocery stores and food markets every day. The Philippi Horticultural Area is a key food production hub for the city and here small-scale farmers typically sell their produce within 24 hours of picking it, whereas fruits and vegetables purchased through conglomerates will sit for weeks until there is enough to mass distribute.
Locally grown foods don’t have to travel long distances to reach you, so you’re actually improving air quality and reducing pollution. You’ll also notice that local food producers don’t have to vacuum pack and double-seal their goods so they remain fresh for as long as possible, hence less packaging helps reduce the amount of plastic we discard. Supporting local farmers who use sustainable practices also benefits the environment and helps reduce your carbon footprint.
Finally, for others, supporting community economies and fostering relationships is important. Small businesses benefit more from spending money locally rather than patronising large businesses that tend to prioritize profits over employees and customers. By doing this you create and maintain farming jobs in the local community, which allows the economy to thrive by creating a positive spending loop within the community.
