Why Buy Local Food?

The Scarsdale Farmers Market is trying desperately to maintain its presence in Scarsdale for the loyal residents that have supported it from day one. Once again I would like to thank them. However we find it more and more difficult to continue the market without customer participation.

This past week The Scarsdale Inquirer ran a very long story in a special section of the paper called “Today's Women”. The article title was "Farmer's Market is her Field of Dreams". This was large and bold and beautifully executed, however this was not an article promoting the Scarsdale Farmers Market but one that helped to promote the Hastings Farmers Market. What am I missing here? The customers that brought this to my attention were shocked and dismayed as to why the Hastings Farmers Market would be front and center in the Scarsdale paper. Needless to say we will not be spending any of our springtime advertising budget with this paper.

It has been the mission of the Scarsdale Market to bring "Farm To Table Eating" to your families from opening day, but some still ask, “Why Buy Local Food?”

Here are just a few good reasons:

Local food is not genetically modified. Although biotechnology companies have been trying to commercialize genetically modified fruits and vegetables, they are currently licensing them only to large factory-style farms. Local farmers don’t have access to genetically modified seed, and most of them wouldn’t use it even if they could. A June 2001 survey by ABC News showed that 93% of Americans want labels on genetically modified food - mostly so that they can avoid it. If you are opposed to eating bio-engineered food, you can rest assured that locally grown produce was bred the old-fashioned way, as nature intended.

Local food keeps your taxes in check. According to several studies, farms contribute more in taxes than they require in services, whereas suburban development costs more than it generates in taxes. On average, for every $1 in revenue raised by residential development, governments must spend $1.17 on services, thus requiring higher taxes. For each dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space, governments spend 34 cents on services

Local food preserves open space and there are so many more reasons you should support local food producers; no preservatives, freshness, no chemicals.

So why wouldn't you come down to Christie Place or the Village Hall parking lot to support such a valuable cause and why would the local paper promote a market in another town? Remember, "Your health is your wealth".