The Benefits of Buying Local!

Think of the word 'local' and perhaps automatically the thoughts of your nearby amenities come to mind - your local gym, your local shop, your local eatery.

The list is as long as your postcode is populous. However, when it comes to utilising our locals, the thought transcends mere convenience and enters into a realm where using local facilities are not just good for the communities but also for the larger environment. But what are the benefits of eating locally and how can TruckStopToday help?

From food wastage to carbon footprint, local economy and on demand food production, it can be easy to be sucked into the great sinkhole of what you eat and where you eat it. Not to say that these global matters are unimportant rather the potential for mis-stepping has become another issue to cause anxiety for individuals and businesses.

Many of us have already undertaken small steps that have an incredibly positive impact such as sourcing reusable or recyclable lunch containers and cutlery. However, how can what we eat locally make a difference not only to our own health and wellbeing but also that of the local community?

TruckStopToday is a champion of supporting local enterprise and, with its library of street food vendors numbering into the thousands, wherever you are based, it is easy to find a local vendor for your business, office space, venue or event.

Our ‘carbon footprint' is a well known phrase and it is a concern that certainly hasn’t diminished over the years, in fact it has been reported by BBC Food that we produce ‘8.2kg of carbon per day, from the food and drink we consume’. Every day. Whilst these figures can seem overwhelming, it is often small acts or changes that (produce) incur the greatest results. One such way to lessen our carbon footprint is to eat food that has not travelled thousands of miles to get to our office lunch plate.

The Wildlife Trust highlights this fact, commenting “Buy local produce to reduce your food miles to shrink your environmental footprint. If all our food came from within 20km of where we live, we could save ￡1.2 billion every year in environmental and congestion costs. Buying locally means our products don't have to travel as far. Food products in our aisles are often transported to us via air, sea or land and the journeys use enormous amounts of fossil fuels. As a consequence, this increases the carbon footprint of the produce and contributes to climate change.”

Remarkably, eating local produce has been linked to not only positive results for the local economy and the larger environment but also to greater health benefits for the consumer. In a recent article published by Better Food, there are at least five key reasons why eating locally has widespread rewards, namely food quality, nutritional value, eating in season, community investment and environmental benefits.

According to the article, Better Food commented, “Eating local is not only tastier, it’s also healthier! Ripe fruits and vegetables contain the most nutrients, as the minute they’re picked, their plant cells begin to shrink and their nutrients diminish. Supermarket produce is grown and processed with its shelf life in mind, and not necessarily its nutritional benefits. These products have been transported over long distances and will often have been sitting in distribution centres before arriving at the store and eventually making it onto the shelves.”

Another factor is that local public money sustains the community, especially after hard times owing to recent events. According to Sustain Case, “Economic prosperity among smaller businesses often means a better quality of life for the wider community. Buying locally is an investment in businesses that pay local taxes and source from other local businesses, thus promoting the development of better public services and prosperity among the greater population. Most importantly, buying locally helps preserve and create local jobs, boosting the local economy and community.”

If you are a local business, venue owner or event organiser, how can these benefits combine to achieve the greatest benefits for you, your team or space as well as the local community and environment? Why not ask TruckStopToday?

Many employers are committed to provide office perks and benefits to their employees or to ensure that those they were with are able to enjoy wellness in their workspaces. Could buying locally-sourced food from one of TruckStopToday’s locally-sourced street food vendors be a fun and rewarding solution?

Office and site owners or event organisers - are you keen to ensure that your carbon footprint is kept to a minimum or would you like to try some cost-effective methods to improve your impact on the environment and boost your packages? Could ensuring that locally sourced food outlets are available and supporting other nearby businesses work wonders for your tenants, the environment and your brand image?

Did you know that TruckStopToday has an online library of local street food vendors in locations across the UK? If you have a location in Sussex, why not try the Landdoughver - an Italian cuisine vendor creating delicious pizzas with locally sourced ingredients based in Chichester and all served from a repurposed and converted Land Rover!

Or if you’re located in or near Birmingham how about enjoying a specially sourced local grass-fed burgers and sausages from Mister Vs Street Food, a vendor situated in the Midlands? Or perhaps you and the team must have your fish and chips on a Friday to get you into the weekend vibe? Have you considered Fish & Frites with mouth-watering fish freshly sourced from the East Neuk of Fife?

Although our current environmental issues can seem overwhelming, small actions by many people can have a hugely positive impact. Enjoying locally grown products, supporting nearby business and eating the seasons are all endeavours that are championed by TruckStopToday. How local could your next lunch be?

To find out more about working with TruckStopToday, why not email [email protected] or visit Truck Stop Today.com now