Eating Local: What you Need to Know

Part of our job here at OddBox beyond providing great produce is making sure that our customers aren’t being fooled. In 2017 we have so many food options it can be overwhelming to weed out what is really good for us and what is just being advertised as good for us. We want to keep all of you informed about simple and easy ways to live and eat sustainably. Eating locally is one of the ways that you can live sustainably and ensure that you know what is going into your body. We understand that eating locally takes a bit more effort and calculation so we curated a list of reasons and tips on how to go about it.

Why Eat Local

• Support local farmers

Supporting the local farmers in your community is an amazing way to give back. Many of the farmers that sell their produce to grocery stores and other middle men do not get paid like they deserve. Buying straight from them ensures that they get paid fairly for the hard work that they do every day.

• Cut down on packaging

Waste is a huge problem in the United Kingdom on all fronts not just food waste. By not buying packaged food you are not adding to that waste. Produce from the grocery store can often come in useless packaging, and buying locally reduces this step. The planet will thank you for avoiding this one.

• Taste and Quality

Eating food that is produced locally means that it has a shorter shelf life than the produce you would buy in the grocery stores. It does not have to travel as far so it can be sold and eaten much faster than the produce in supermarkets. This ensures the freshness of this produce. The taste and quality of local grown food is said to be much higher so you know you are getting what you pay for.

How to Eat Local

• Shop at farmers markets

Farmers markets are one of the easiest ways to eat locally! It make the process easier because you can find a lot of different types of produce in one place. Make sure to ask questions when you go. Most farmers are very proud of the produce so they’ll want to share where they grow and their story. This is an easy way to keep track of what e

• Plant a garden

This is a very literal take on eating local. The most legitimate way to eat locally is to plant a garden in your own backyard. This gives you control of the produce that you want to see in your meals at home. There are many ways to grow your own food and herbs so go for it!

• Choose restaurants that source locally

Restaurants and cafes are now hoping on the bandwagon of buying from their local farmers and incorporating that into the dishes on their menus. Many advertise this in some way or another, but if you can not tell if they source locally just give them a call. It is still possible to eat locally as you eat out.

We hope this gave you some insight on why and how you can eat locally and live sustainably! If you have any tips you’d like to share how and why you eat locally email us at hello@oddbox.co.uk we’d love to hear!