Including more whole foods in your diet, such as fruits and vegetables, can keep your body healthy and functioning at its best. Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of essential nutrients like fiber, vitamins, and minerals necessary for your body’s health and maintenance. People who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are also likely to have reduced risks for some chronic diseases.
Why Buy Local Produce?
If you are working towards adding more fruits and vegetables into your diet, consider purchasing from local produce establishments. Locally grown food is fresh and often harvested at peak ripeness as the product does not have far to travel before selling. Local farmers can grow varieties of produce for taste and freshness rather than shelf-life and shipping. When you buy locally, you are also supporting your community’s farmers and contributing to the local economy. Small family farms generally take a more sustainable approach to food production by using fewer chemicals and caring for the soil’s health, too.
Where Can I Find Local Produce?
Finding local produce can be very simple if you are familiar with the right resources. South Carolina has an abundance of tasty, fresh produce available from certified roadside markets, community-supported agriculture (CSAs), state farmers markets, certified South Carolina grown members, community-based farmer’s markets, and agritourism farms. To quickly locate fresh produce in South Carolina, visit The South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s ‘Where to Buy Local’ directory.
Use the South Carolina Department of Agriculture’s directory to find a farmer’s market near you!
Ellie Lane, ©2021, Clemson Extension
For more information on the health benefits of fruits and vegetables, see HGIC 4016, Focus on Fruits and HGIC 4017, Vary Your Veggies.
Sources:
- Fruits (2021). USDA. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits
- Vegetables (2021). USDA. Retrieved March 17, 2021, from https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables
