By Emma Recker

Locally Grown, Limiting Carbon Footprint

A refrigerated truck is vital for transporting and guaranteeing freshness; however, this is more energy costly than any typical truck, therefore more pollutants are being emitted, contributing to diminished air quality. 

A possible solution to this is localizing the production of food, so energy is not being used for unnecessary transportation. In addition, localized food is not mass cultivated, so the crops are grown with minimal pesticides and fossil fuels. 

Food that is locally grown is fresher, contains fewer carbon emissions, utilizes less energy, and typically fosters better working and wage conditions. 

Americans typically spend a low portion of their annual income on food, which may explain why they are more likely to have a poor diet consisting of processed foods filled with unwanted preservatives. These habits may contribute to the overall lower quality of American foods. 

Purchase Locally Grown and Raised Food Products

Larimer county offers a myriad of farmers markets all year round. Fort Collins offers a winter market that provides locals with fresh, in-season, and locally grown crops. 

Local businesses, such as EP Green and Peace Country Microgreens, grow microgreens, herbs, and lettuce year-round to sell at the Winter Farmers Market in Fort Collins. 

Unnecessary energy is not being used to transport this product to Fort Collins because it’s grown locally and sold directly to them. Despite Fort Collins’ cold winters, these small businesses will operate year-round with indoor hydroponic farms. 

Fresh Meat and Ethical Agriculture

At the Fort Collins Winter Market, animal products such as: eggs, milk, and meat are common items sold because of their ability to be produced year-round. 

Jodar Farms is a locally owned farm in Fort Collins, and raises chickens and pigs with free-range and pasture-based methods. They provide a community support agriculture, so locals can purchase products at the beginning of an agriculture season.

Their business has a goal of ethically raising animals, harvesting products with care, and providing consumers with the highest quality and freshest animal products. Unwanted preservatives are not in their products, so they must be consumed quickly and sold locally. Their business provides hog orders by the whole or half, so consumers will be able to use everything from the hog.