WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO BUY FOOD FROM OUR LOCAL FARMERS

Frederick and surrounding counties have so many local farms to choose from and this time of year they are full of fresh, nutrient filled produce.  Most people have routines that involve going to the grocery store to purchase food, but taking a few more minutes out of the day to consider the quality of food is well worth it.  Why do we eat food?  The answer should be for the nutrients so that our bodies can work efficiently and we can maximize health.

How can we get the most nutrients from out food?  We begin with the soil that the plants are grown in.  The soil contains the nutrients that the plants absorb, therefore, the health of the soil is vital.  This pertains to both produce and animals.  Animals get their nutrients from the plants, including the essential amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein.  Freshly picked produce contains the highest amount of nutrients, particularly when ripened naturally.  Buying food from local farmers provides better nutrition, lowers negative environmental impacts and helps build stronger community economies. Here are some reasons why finding your local farmers is a powerful investment in your health and well worth making a priority.

Freshly picked fruits and vegetables contain high levels of essential vitamins and minerals like Vitamin C,potassium, and folate.  In general nutrient levels of plants are at their peak right at harvest. Water soluble vitamins such as Vitamin C and B can be lost as soon as 24 hours after picking, therefore, the fresher the better!  By the time produce gets to the grocery store it can lose 50% or more of its Vitamin C and up to 30% of B vitamin content.  Local farmers who care for the soil typically produce fruits and vegetables with sufficient mineral content.  Conversely, corporate farmed produce is especially low in minerals, due to the repeated planting and depletion of nutrients in the soil, losing about 50% iron, copper and calcium content and up to 24% magnesium content.  In addition, certain nutrients peak at full ripeness such as antioxidants Vitamin A and anthocyanins (very powerful antioxidants found in dark colored fruits and vegetables such as blueberries). 

Local growers frequently utilize eco-friendly regenerative farming methods, which produce higher quality fruits and vegetables.  By not using heavy machines to tear up the dirt, worm tunnels are kept safe.  Worm tunnels improve soil by increasing air flow, helping water drain, and making it easier for plant roots to grow.  Local farmers also add natural compost, such as cow manure, which creates rich organic matter and helps ground hold water.  Cow manure is considered one of the best organic fertilizers because it rarely burns plants, safely improves soil structure, and feeds beneficial microbes.  Small farmers tend to rotate crops, which creates diversity that attracts a large variety of microbial life and inhibits pests from homing in on a specific plant.  They also create diversity by using a diverse mix of heirloom varieties, which also helps build resilience against pests. Growing food without man-made pesticides and other weedkillers means fewer toxic residues end up on what we eat.

In healthy soil there are billions of microbes that break down organic matter that feed the plants that we eat. Growing many different types of crops together or in rotation creates varied root secretions, which attract a larger and healthier variety of microbial life. Microbes from the soil are vital for human health, especially the immune system and gut microbiome. A single gram of healthy soil can contain up to billions of microorganisms, matching the total number of microbes in the human gut, whereas typical over-the-counter probiotic supplements usually isolate only a few strains. Reduced contact with these soil ecosystems in modern urban environments directly parallels a rising global increase in chronic immune and metabolic disorders.  This speaks to the benefit of having a garden where you come in direct contact with the soil.

Buying your food from a local farmer also means decreasing toxic burden and helping the environment.  Toxic burden is the accumulation of small amounts of synthetic chemicals over time, which we are now constantly being exposed to (often without realizing) from the air, water and man-made materials. According to the CDC, approximately 97-100 of tested individuals were found to have measurable amounts of synthetic compounds, heavy metals, and/or pesticide residues.   The yearly volume of synthetic pesticides applied to global agricultural lands in the US is estimated to be 5.6 billion pounds, driving widespread exposure. Up to 70% to 80% of American grocery stores use automatic produce misting systems, often containing chlorine compounds. Therefore, you must thoroughly rinse all produce at home before eating.

The industrialized farming system has put a significant burden on our detoxification pathways.  The detoxification pathways in the body, to include the liver and GI tract, perform many different functions to keep the body healthy, in addition to the role of detoxification.  Rather than these organ systems performing the functions of healing and repairing, they are spending a great deal of time “taking out the trash” from unwanted toxic burden.  These pathways require antioxidants and other nutrients to rid the body (or detoxify) of unwanted substances.   Almost 100% of dietary antioxidants come from plant foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and although there are some antioxidants found in meat sources, they contribute a negligible fraction. For example, antioxidants are found in Vitamin C from citrus fruits and green vegetables, Vitamin E from plant oils, nuts, and seeds and Vitamin A (beta-carotene) found in carrots and sweet potatoes. 

Ane best of all you know where your food is coming from!!!  We are constantly facing recalls from corporate farmed foods after people have already gotten sick.  There is less chance of this with local farmers, simply because there are fewer handling steps.  It is worth your time to meet your local farmer and ask questions.  You can ask if they use organic practices, their use of pesticides (whether using natural or chemical), their growing methods and you can see first-hand how they are caring for their animals.  A trip to the local farmer can also be “a breath of fresh air,” allowing you to enjoy their beautiful crops and surrounding scenery.  We also should consider that in corporate farming the farmers receive only receive about 15 to 20 cents of every dollar spent on food. The rest covers processing, packaging, long-haul logistics, and corporate retail margins. When we invest in local farmers we are also investing in our local communities.

The number one reason most people don’t consider buying from a local farmer is COST. According to a study from NIH, organic produce bought directly from local farmers can cost less than certified organic equivalents inside the grocery store.  Most in season crops like zucchini, squash, tomatoes, or sweet corn are frequently equal to or lower in price per pound than conventional grocery store produce.  Some local farms have green houses that produce throughout the winter season, which is an opportunity to get quality food for a comparable grocery store price.  Although, in general, foods from a local farmer can cost more than in a grocery store, they really are NOT a better deal when you consider the quality of the food and all the negative factors associated with corporate farming. 

When we take a closer look at the negative factors of corporate farming and the food from the industrial food supply chains that end up in the grocery store, we see significant concerns to our health.  Pesticide residues and chemical contaminants on conventional produce sold at large chain grocery stores contribute to chronic disease through cumulative, low-dose exposure (toxic burden) that disrupt hormones and cause low-grade systemic inflammation, which is a core driver of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.  Foods with heavy pesticides (like the dirty dozen that includes spinach, strawberries, etc.), have been shown to cause elevated risk for certain cancers.  Some pesticides can be neurotoxic leading to cognitive issues, cause respiratory illness, and cause non-Hodgkins’s lymphoma, a form of cancer that is directly linked to glycosphates (the chemical in Roundup).

According to the CDC, approximately 80% of all chronic diseases are lifestyle driven, which includes the food we eat, and 1 in 4 adult Americans have at least one chronic disease.  Further, poor diet is considered a primary risk driving the epidemic of chronic illness according to this agency.

Corporate farming also decreases the nutrients in produce by harvesting before ripening to achieve a longer shelf life.  Some of the produce is also exposed to ethylene gas chambers to trigger color changes in transit and make them look ripened.  Industrial produce is created for long shelf-life and transport. The average piece of produce travels over 1,500 miles before reaching a plate, causing a significant loss of many vitamins and minerals.  To transport the food over these long distances, massive amounts of electricity are used for refrigeration.  This and the fuel needed for transport produce greenhouse gases that cause a significant carbon footprint.  Therefore, we also need to consider the environmental impact of the industrialized food system.

Most crops in large-scale or corporate farming are grown using industrial methods, focusing on monocrops, pesticides and heavy machinery. Monocrops (planting a single crop over a large area) are very damaging to the soil and surrounding environment.  Monocrops cause a heavy loss of biodiversity,disrupting ecosystems and negatively affecting beneficial insects and animals. The chemical pesticides on top of the poor soil conditions can also pollute nearby waterways affecting aquatic life.   Soybeans are considered a monocrop.  Globally approximately 77% to 80% of the world's soybean crops are fed to livestock and 7% is consumed by humans.  Large Scale almonds monocrops use 400-500 gallons of water per pound of food, while beef requires approximately 1,800 to 1,850 gallons of water.

And what about meat from a local farmer verses a large chain grocery store? Animal agriculture, to include deforestation for massive feed-crop operations contributes to about 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Approximately 70% of global antibiotics are given to factory farmed animals due to poor living conditions, which can cause the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (superbugs) that can transfer to humans.   U.S. factory farms produce 500 million tons of animal waste yearly, which is 17 times more than the human population's sewage. Just four companies control 85% of cattle slaughter and 70% of pork production. These  include Tyson Foods, Smithfield (owned by WH Group of China) and Hormel.  These companies make billions from animal production/slaughter and they work very hard to keep their profit through commercials and marketing. 

On the other hand, buying meat from a local farmer bridges the psychological gap between food and living creatures by fostering transparency, restoring respect for life, and creating personal accountability.  Seeing the source makes it harder to forget that meat comes from a living being and brings accountability to our choices, which in the long run, is better for everyone.

In addition, during the process of corporate farming of animals, many nutrients are lost.  Corporate farmed animals are lacking in vitamins such as B3, B5, B6, and B12), Vitamin E and Beta-Carotene and Omega 3 fatty acids.  The animals are also eating a high grain diet that is high in omega 6 fatty acids, which can be inflammatory if not in a proper balance with Omega 3 fatty acids.   Hormones, such as growth hormone, are also given to animals and there is debate over how much that impacts human health.

That is why now, more than ever, finding your food sources and local farmers should be a top priority. Becoming an organic farmer is expensive, however, there are several in Frederick County.  Many farmers use organic practices even though they are not Certified Organic.  Getting to know a farmer means finding out what their practices are and even visiting their farm.  You can then see how the food is grown and ask questions about their organic practices for pest control or if they are using chemical pesticides.  You can also see how the animals are living and being treated.  Is it worth your time to do this – you bet!  There is no question that if the corporate farms could make all the local farmers go away, they would, and they sure have tried. 

Finding and getting to know your local farmers may be the most important thing you do, but there are also ways to be a smarter shopper in the grocery store, by taking some time to learn what the labels mean and being careful of crafty advertising with labels such as natural or grass fed.  Some cows that are “grass fed” never leave their indoor cage, rather grass is dumped into their feed tray – that is not the same for so many reasons!   You can also tell whether a fruit or vegetable is full of pesticides or genetically modified.  The Price Look Up codes (PLU) on produce containing a 4-digit code that starts with a 3 or 4 are conventionally grown and sprayed with pesticides, a 5-digit code starting with 8 means it is genetically modified and should simply be avoided and a 5-digit code starting with 9 is organic and is a good choice.  And there are also some higher quality grocery stores that are transparent in where they source their products.  Be careful of roadside stands, because occasionally they will just buy food from a local store and put it on the stand. 

If you can begin buying some or most of your food from a local farmer you are off to a great start.  What often happens is that when someone buys quality food from a local farmer, they can’t help but go back because the food tastes so much better!

Here is a sample of some local farms and what they have to offer:

Pleasant Hill Produce, 8444 Fountain Rock Rd, Walkersville

Fruits, vegetables, herbs, meat, eggs and a variety of other products and the store is open 10-6 daily.

Doce Lume Farm, 11346 Lorien Court, Frederick

Herbs, organic, vegetables

Dodson’s Promised Land Farm, 9750 Appolds Rd, Rocky Ridge

Beef, herbs, organic, vegetables, wool

Flying Pigs Farm, 9233 Bessie Clemson Rd, Union Bridge

Berries, flowers, organic

Fox Haven Organic Farm, 4855 Broad Run Rd, Jefferson

herbs, nature retreats, and community educational programs.

Good Soil Farm LLC, 9736 Keysville Rd, Emmitsburg

Chicken, eggs, herbs, honey vegetables, turkey

House in the Woods Farm, 2104 Mt. Ephraim Rd, Adamstown

Organic, vegetables

Miolea Organic Farm, 5301 Doubs Rd, Adamstown

Berries, chicken, eggs, organic, vegetables, preserves

Moon Valley Farm, 9700 Gravel Hills Road, Woodsboro

Apples, eggs, fruit, corn vegetables, honey

Nick’s Organic Farm, 2733 Buckeystown Pike Adamstown

Beef, chicken, eggs, turkey

Summer Creek Farm, Thurmont, MD

certified organic fresh vegetables and organic living soil mixes.

Stone Pillar Farm, Mount Philip Road, Frederick, MD

pasture-raised meats, grass-finished beef, fresh eggs, and microgreens.

Dr. Leah Griswold

www.gvcwellness.com

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like references.