Around the world people are discovering the benefits of purchasing local food. With the current global economy, there is a trend in nearly all business arenas to stick with what, and most especially who you know. And this is also spilling into the food market. Local produce and meat are projected to be the two most popular items on restaurant menus this year, reports the National Restaurant Association. Besides keeping local farmers in business, the food is higher in nutrition, say the experts. 

You can tap into this trend without visiting local restaurants – just go to your neighbourhood Farmers’ Market. The best organic food is what's grown closest to you, which is why people are opting for local produce rather than organic fare grown far away and shipped in.

Another factor is the growing evidence of food-borne illness, chronic disease and environmental degradation way onto the news. Movies like 2008’s Oscar-nominated “Food Inc.” has given parent cause to think again about what they’re feeding their kids.

“Farmers markets' are popping up all over and their popularity is linked to the rising interest in what we feed our families,” says Mary McGuire-Wien, author of the 7-day Total Cleanse. “Meeting the grower and being able to ask questions about the food is a novel experience."

If you are in the New York area, take the opportunity to visit the American Yogini Hohm property on Long Island near the Hamptons where Mary often has weekend classes with gourmet chefs who use only locally sourced food.

According to statistics nearly a quarter of American shoppers now buy organic products once a week, up from 17% in 2000. The mindset is clearly shifting. It seems that if we buy local food, we are in effect bringing a spotlight onto local and organic food, and in turn we see a marked increase in nutrition- bringing with it a healthier, happier, more stronger population. Global warming is curbed, air pollution reduced and farmers and their families get to help us enjoy tasty, nutritious food and good health for years to come.

For more information visit http://www.americanyogini.com

Technorati Tags: raw food, local food, farmer;s market, new york, long insland, hamptons, gourmet chef