Importance of buying fresh food locally

(FOX Providence) - When you go to the grocery store, you may not realize the impact your choices have on the economy and the environment.

Ben Hague recently attended a luncheon hosted by Farm Fresh Rhode Island to see the importance of supporting our local farmers.

"Farm Fresh Rhode island is a non profit. We're based here in Providence, started in about 2004 with the idea that we need to connect more Rhode Islanders with where there food is coming from and to create new markets for local farms so that we continue to have local farms here in Rhode Island, that are producing delicious fresh food that can be enjoyed by everyone in our state," said Noah Fulmer, director of Farm Fresh RI.

Supporting local food production not only assures that the food is the freshest, but helps boost the economy of our state.

"The people that buy from us, love that it's local. We try to offer it at a fair price, we don't have to ship it anywhere, we use little or no chemicals. My older kids are starting to realize the importance of shipping things and packaging things, and how great it is to have it local," said Polly Allen, Co-Owner, Bean Houses Farm.

"Food really connects with every facet of our lives. And when we are looking at the environment were talking about the farm land we have here and the transportation costs that have to do with shipping food from far away to feed ourselves, and we look at public health and fresher food has nutrients that are what we want to be feeding our children, it tastes better, more satisfying," added Fulmer.