Are local foods healthier? Local Foods are most likely going to be the ...

Are local foods healthier? Local Foods are most likely going to be the freshest foods available. Food loses nutrients over time and by exposure to air, heat, light depending on the food and nutrient we are discussing. How food is handled indicates how many nutrients a food retains. Many frozen foods are just as nutritious as poorly handled fresh foods. When you buy your foods locally you can ask and determine how fresh that food is, and also can get a picture of how that food was handled. Ask if the farmer you buy from is GTAP’s certified (Good Agricultural Practices) which ensures not only food safety but best handling practices. Either way, when you buy locally the food is likely to have a longer shelf life, which saves money in the long run. By Cathy Moore, RD, CDN, Agriculture and Fort Drum Issue Leader, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County April 29, 2017