Are you one of the 75 percent of Americans who own a BBQ? If so, will you be putting local Akron produce on your smoker this year?

As local gardeners and farmers begin preparing for the spring and summer harvest, Akron residents can look forward to delicious locally produced meat on their BBQ, accompanied by the freshest vegetables and fruit.

So why buy local? When you start to get your BBQ ready for the season, keep in mind that fresh, locally grown and produced foods are better for you, help your community and generally much better for the environment. In fact, most food will travel more than 1,500 miles from the farm to your BBQ. Whereas locally produced food often travels less than 50 miles. This cuts down on pollution, our reliance on fossil fuels, and benefits the environment.

Local food generally comes to the market or farm shop within 24 hours of being dug up or picked. This makes it so fresh and extraordinarily delicious. There’s also the advantage that fresher foods will keep much longer, too. This reduces waste and offers a much better value for your dollar. And because they are so fresh, they are also more nutritious and bursting with vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Support local farmers

Successful farm businesses enhance our communities, strengthen our local food supply and protect valuable farmland. By selling locally, farmers reduce distribution, packaging and the cost of advertising, while offering us more affordable and much fresher food.

If you buy from a traditional store or food market, the farmer will likely see less than 10 cents of each dollar you spend. But buying directly from the farmer means you give them around 80 to 90 cents of each dollar you spend. Some farms even offer a Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) arrangement, where you pay for a share of a farm’s harvest, divided out across the season. However, CSAs may not suit everyone though, so buying from farm shops and markets is still a great way to buy local produce.

When you buy local food in Akron, more of the money you spend will stay in Akron, supporting local farmers and the community overall. So, get everyone together for a great BBQ and make sure you put Akron produce on the grill. And when it comes to what to drink to wash down your delicious BBQ food, how about a glass of NORKA, Akron’s very own sparkling beverage?