[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/benefits-buying-produce-local-organic-farms\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/benefits-buying-produce-local-organic-farms\/","headline":"6 Benefits of Buying Produce From Local or Organic Farms","name":"6 Benefits of Buying Produce From Local or Organic Farms","description":"Eating local and organically grown produce provides several health benefits. Learn more about these benefits and discover the Organic Gardens at Magee.","datePublished":"2014-05-09","dateModified":"2023-10-12","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","name":"UPMC Magee-Womens","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/women-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-magee-womens-hospital\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/asparagus.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/asparagus.png","height":527,"width":791},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/benefits-buying-produce-local-organic-farms\/","about":["Nutrition"],"wordCount":236,"keywords":["American Academy of Pediatrics","farmer's market","grown food","Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC","organic","Phipps Conservancy"],"articleBody":"Spring has arrived and with the new season comes organic produce at local farmers’ markets.Choosing locally grown or organic foods may reduce pesticide exposures as smaller local farms generally apply organic principles. Plus, you can ask the farmer exactly what their practices are!While it’s true that organics generally cost more, as demand goes up, the prices are coming down. Here are six benefits of buying organic or locally grown fruits and vegetables:Organic diets may expose families to fewer pesticides associated with human disease.Organic farming may have less environmental impact than conventional farming. Organic farming reduces soil and water contamination and increases biodiversity.Organic produce has been shown to be slightly higher in antioxidants.Buying locally grown helps the local economy.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reducing childhood exposures to pesticides. Early exposures may be linked to pediatric cancers, decreased cognitive function, and behavioral problems.Local farmers share their growing methods and often farm utilizing organic principles. Buying at farmer’s markets allows you to know who is growing your food and what their methods are.The “Clean 15\u201d list includes produce that is typically safe to consume washed and in non-organic form.\u00a0The “Dirty Dozen Plus\u201d list includes produce that you should consider buying organic due to the amount of pesticide residues found in them. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on May 9, 2014, and was last reviewed on October 12, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2014","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"05","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/\/05\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"6 Benefits of Buying Produce From Local or Organic Farms","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2014\/05\/benefits-buying-produce-local-organic-farms\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]