The Green Fork is the official blog of the Eat Well Guide. Click here to Find Good Food.

Today’s Healthy Monday tip: Buy local!

After the recent scare regarding the presence of salmonella in certain raw tomatoes circulating the US, it seems that there is no time like the present to know where your groceries hail from. Buying locally provides you with an advantage by allowing you to more easily trace the path from farm to plate. One of the best ways to educate yourself about the life of your food is to take a trip to your local farmers’ market. Need help finding the nearest one? Search the Eat Well Guide (http://www.eatwellguide.org). After scoping out the seasonal offerings, don’t hesitate to engage local purveyors in conversation about their products and production methods and encourage others to do the same. There’s something exciting and empowering about getting intimate with your edibles.

While buying food at the farmers market is ideal, sometimes the grocery store is the more feasible option. In this case, make sure to let your grocer know that you would like to see more local produce. Customer demand encourages reevaluation of store products and will likely lead to more consciously stocked shelves. Eating locally ensures tastier and fresher food for your body. Not to mention, the savings in transport and extra packaging.

Wondering what foods you might find at the farmers market this time of year? You can find out what’s in season in your local area by using our Seasonal Food Guide here.