Our wonderful farmer’s market supports Robin Good’s statement that we should “Buy local and Live Free”. Good provides a useful illustration:

It?s gotten to the point where much of our nourishment depends on a handful of giants.
And they?re shipping foods an average of 1500 miles to reach your plate, a practice that strains anyone?s notion of ?fresh.?
But a quiet revolution is in the air, and we the eaters hold the power for change.
The typical Tom (tomato) is exhausted by the time he gets to market.
1500 miles from field to fork ? that?s the trek made by the average fruit or vegetable these days. Because of the need to hold up over distances, our foods are bred, not for taste but for transport ? their ability to handle the long haul. And what do we eaters get? Tired tomatoes

Yesterday’s winter farmer’s market included a big stack of tomatoes, potatoes, cheeses, honey, spinach, apples, eggs, pork and beef.