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Environmentalists consider buying local to be one of the most important steps in going (and being) green. Frequenting farmers markets is one of the most common and easiest ways to buy local; most of the vendors come from farms nearby where their products were grown, created, produced, etc. If unable to visit a farmers market, regular grocery stores often offer source information for their foods and products sold.

Buying items produced locally not only supports the local economy (which is a good thing, too), but it also reduces carbon emissions in the transportation process. An apple grown 10 states over, or a pair of jeans produced in another country, has to travel quite a distance to get to you, whereas the same item produced in your state or region has a much smaller distance to travel, making the emissions (and thus, the contribution to climate change) far smaller.

Consumers who choose to buy food that's produced locally rather than in distant markets requiring significant resources to transport are called 'locavores.' (Photo: Flickr)

Bon appétit, y'all!

April 8, 2009, 2:44 p.m. by Plenty Magazine

How a church choir master in Oklahoma staged a local food revolution.

Soil to stoops: Local food movement hits New Orleans

March 31, 2009, 4:24 p.m. by Plenty Magazine

Since Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleanians have wondered where their dinner will come from, and one local group has stepped up to the plate to provide answers.

Soil to stoops: Local food movement hits Brooklyn

March 31, 2009, 3:55 p.m. by Plenty Magazine

In the Big Apple's beleaguered East New York neighborhood, hope comes in the form of homegrown veggies.

Soil to stoops: Local food movement hits Oakland

March 31, 2009, 3:48 p.m. by Plenty Magazine

One Californian food justice group shows that local, healthy eating starts with education and a tricked-out rig.

Soil to stoops: Local food movement hits Philadelphia

March 31, 2009, 3:42 p.m. by Plenty Magazine

A new farmers' market in downtown Philadelphia makes buying local easy for everyone.

Soil to stoops: Local food movement hits Detroit

March 30, 2009, 12 a.m. by Plenty Magazine

In the heart of Detroit, gardening guru Ashley Atkinson gets urbanites excited about growing food.

Hacks for locavores

March 26, 2009, 1:28 a.m. by Siel Ju

Make your locavoring life a little easier with everything from an iPhone app to a veggie trading site.

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All-natural dessert a Triangle treat

March 24, 2009, 11:49 a.m. by Plenty Magazine

Local popsicle store buys most ingredients from a Durham, N.C., nonprofit group.

Host a go green office party

March 11, 2009, 4:38 p.m. by Melissa Hincha-Ownby

Launch your company's green office initiative with a St. Patrick’s Day office party.

Destination of the Week: Minneapolis

February 27, 2009, 11:18 a.m. by Josh Lew

The City of Lakes is making a smaller splash with its sustainability and conservation efforts.

Local farms fight big agribusiness

January 22, 2009, 6:32 p.m. by Jonathan Cribbs

Grassroots activism and Washington savvy help Food Democracy Now! plow forward.

Do-good, easy New Year's resolution #2

December 30, 2008, 12:37 p.m. by Robin Shreeves

I’ve got the second resolution that you are welcome to adopt as your own.

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