Australia is rife with unique flora and fauna that aren’t found anywhere else. Therefore, it makes complete sense for the country to source its produce from local farms.
Almost 52% of the restaurants in padstow and Byron Bay and other towns often source their entire stock of produce locally.
It is a great way to procure unique and exciting vegetables and meat for fine dining restaurants, but local produce is more advantageous.
Take a look at how it can change consumption patterns and protect the environment in the following post.
Better Quality and Better Taste.
When crops are cultivated locally, they are harvested at their height of maturity rather than being harvested sooner to be exported and marketed to distant retail stores. They tend to be more flavourful and add an extra layer of taste and texture to the cooked dish.
Furthermore, locally-sourced food is picked and distributed within 24 hours, keeping them fresh and tasty.
Higher Levels of Nutrients.
Fruits and vegetables may lose nutrients during shipping and processing and even lying on supermarket shelves.
For example, vitamin C, a water-soluble component essential for healthy skin and tissues, starts to deteriorate in fresh fruits and vegetables soon after harvesting.
Furthermore, the antioxidant content of several fruits and vegetables decreases with storage.
As locally cultivated produce does not have to travel far or remain in storage for lengthy periods, it maintains more nutrients.
Locally Sourced is Fresh.
Food grown and produced locally is not imported from faraway states or nations, as with many retail commodities.
This means that local food, particularly vegetables, is typically fresher and tastes better than nonlocal foods.
Local vegetables sold at farmer’s markets may have been gathered or harvested only a day or two before the market and sometimes even on the morning of the sale.
Hence, some fruits and vegetables can ripen longer on the vine or have better-growing environments. This could make the product tastier, juicier, and sweeter.
Supports Local Farming Communities.
The money spent at a local farmer’s market helps support local farming communities and generate jobs. To establish a more robust network of local farmers, the local population must begin by supporting them.
Moreover, the necessity of resilient local food networks will become increasingly vital in the future. There are uncountable reasons why the globe might face food insecurity soon.
The reliance on exhaustible fossil fuels to support an energy-intensive agricultural system cannot be sustained indefinitely. Therefore, helping local agricultural communities is a goal that will have a global impact.
Sustainability.
Local farmers and food vendors benefit from the cause of sustainability greatly. Here’s how!
- Improved ecosystems
Supporting local farmers contributes to the preservation of green spaces and farms. Local farms that practice sustainable farming increase biodiversity preserve pollinators essential for a healthy ecosystem and preserve clean water, soil, and air.
- Reduced pollution and a smaller carbon imprint
Local food travels shorter distances to marketplaces and stores than foods from other regions. As a result, their transportation contributes to less pollution and carbon emissions.
- Lesser trash and plastic packing
Many local commodities, particularly vegetables, are offered without packaging at farm stands. One can also bring their reusable bags to transport the products home. This means reduced waste, notably of plastic packaging and bags.
Final Thoughts.
The advantages of local produce are many, and restaurants in padstow, Byron Bay, and several other smaller towns in Australia understand that. It is nutritious, tasty, and good for the environment.
It is about time the rest of the world took a page out of their book and appreciated more of the local produce.
