Champions In Europe

Hello, my name is Caio and I will talk about purchasing local foods. By purchasing locally grown foods you help maintain farmland and green and/or open space in your community. Local foods promote a safer food supply. The more steps there are between you and your food's source the more chances there are for contamination. It benefits the local economy, including supporting local farmers and other producers. It encourages sustainable agriculture, and facilitates tracking the supply chain back to the point of origin to evaluate ecological practices. It ensures that food has passed some of the highest safety standards in the world. Some benefits about local foods and growing local are: Farmers' markets. Farmers' markets are one of the most popular places for consumers to find and purchase locally grown foods. Depending on your community, your farmers' markets may take place one to two times per week. It may also depend on the season and your climate, as some markets are open year-round. At farmers' markets, you can find local meats, produce and even preserved and canned foods.

Community Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs): You can join these programs as a community member by paying for a share of the harvested produce, eggs and meats. Usually, you will be asked to pay for your share up front, then your food will be available after harvest. When you participate in a CSA, you pick up your share of harvested foods from a communal location with other CSA participants.

Events, Stands and Gleaning: There are other ways to purchase locally grown food as a consumer. Some communities host pick-your-own events where families can pay a fee to enter a farm and pick their own produce. There are also roadside stands and on-site shops for consumers to visit. Gleaning programs are also becoming more popular, whereby participants can pick leftover crops after harvesting.

Local Grocers: More and more local grocers are opting to carry produce, dairy and meats supplied by local producers. You will often see these items labeled in the store to indicate that they're local foods. Many grocery businesses today are attempting to prioritize local food.

Local Food Delivery Programs: Some businesses today specialize in working directly with local farmers to deliver their food directly to consumers. You can pay a subscription fee to have fresh local food delivered to you on a regular basis. The food usually arrives in a box and can be delivered to your home or work.

Grow Your Own: Of course, you can always start growing your own food in your yard or on your balcony. Some municipalities allow chickens and other small animals to be raised on residential properties.

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In this podcast, I talked about the Champions in the principal leagues in Europe.