Why eat Local food?
There are many benefits to eating local food. It's good for the economy because money from each transaction stays in the region. It connects community members to the people who produce their food. Plus, since food doesn't travel far from where it is produced, eating local also helps protect the environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
Local food is more nutritious and simply tastes better, too, because it's often harvested or processed the same day it arrives at the co-op.
Seward Co-op calls attention to local food on our shelves with stickers and shelf tags for easy identification. Although "local" is a buzzword used by many retailers, Seward Co-op has for years cultivated truly reciprocal, long-term relationships with local growers and producers, offering its shoppers a convenient connection to fresh and delicious food of the highest quality.
Seward Co-op Definition of 'Local'
Products are considered local if:
- They are grown or produced in the five-state region (MN, WI, SD, ND, IA).
- Some level of production (beyond repackaging) must takes place locally. For example, a local coffee roaster is considered local. Although the raw product is not grown here, the coffee is roasted and packaged in the area, supporting local business.
