Consumers can shop to support U.S. agriculture

Imagine riding in the back of a truck on a 1,500-mile road trip. Now imagine your dinner riding on that same truck for 1,500 miles.

According to Iowa State University’s Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, that’s the average distance a meal travels before it reaches the kitchen table. As a result, imported and non-local food can be less fresh, contain fewer nutrients and carry expensive packaging and transportation costs by the time it reaches consumers.

To ensure the safety and freshness of their produce, many consumers are checking labels and making a point of buying fruits and vegetables grown in the United States. Others are choosing produce raised in or near their own communities.

“There are several ways to do it. Go to your grocer and ask them about Virginia Grown products,” said Tom Sleight, director of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Division of Marketing. “A lot of markets are now featuring a label of where the produce is from. Encourage them to continue to do that. The grocer needs to know that it makes a difference to you.”

Farmers’ markets and roadside stands are also best bets for fresh produce. The U. S. Department of Agriculture reports there are more than 3,700 farmers’ markets operating in the United States, 86 of which are in Virginia.

“Consumers have become increasingly interested in knowing how their produce is grown,” said Sandra Reichert, coordinator for the Fairfax County Farmers’ Market. “The people who shop our markets are looking for bonds with producers. They want to know how their food was grown, what was sprayed on it and where their farm is located. They really want to take ownership of what they eat.”