They called me today: zucchini, tomatoes, squash and corn. I wandered through the farmer’s market near our home in great delight as I passed each stall. Our little farmers market is growing, and I was as excited as a kid in a candy store.

Is it crazy to get excited about fresh produce? Maybe. But the thought of feeding my family well strikes a chord deep within me and brings comfort to my soul in a way I can’t explain. it just feels good to buy fresh produce and meat from small local farmers instead of big box stores.

After all, feeding my family is about so much more than putting food on the table. As Andi Ashworth shares in her gem of a book real love for real life“One of the vital functions of a home is to nurture, both physically and emotionally, the people who inhabit it. When the art of cooking is not practiced, more is lost than a good meal… A tangible sense of well-being comes to rest in a house where someone is busy in the kitchen preparing food that will nourish the body and act as a catalyst for conversation.”

In my attempts to better nourish both the body and soul of my family, I have also been learning more about the benefits of buying local. I buy meat, milk, and eggs from local farmers when I can find them, grow a small garden in the summer, and take advantage of the produce available at the farmers’ market. But do I read the labels at the supermarket to see how far my food has come? Not as often as it should. Did you know that, according to a 2005 study in the magazine Food PolicyIs it better for you and the environment to buy local than to buy organic? This is because organic products often travel so far that the environmental impact outweighs the benefits of being organic. The country of origin labels now required on products can help you recognize how far your food has come so you can make the smartest selection.

If you live in a medium to large city, you probably have a variety of attractive and well-designed grocery stores to choose from to do your shopping. You may even have one of the wonderful new superstores that are springing up all over the place. These stores likely have an organic section, but what about a local produce section? Often, the store’s willingness to offer local products depends on customer demand. So if you don’t have a local farmers market, ask your grocer about bringing local produce.

Or, take a short drive on a Saturday to find a farmers market. You will have a relaxing trip, you will meet interesting people and you will find wonderful food. Nothing beats farm-fresh food to nourish body and soul!