If you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, you probably know that buying more organic food is a smart move. What if you could get your entire neighborhood in on this? What if there was a way to help everyone make better organic food choices?

There is! You could organize with your neighborhood and begin buying more local organic produce! There are many benefits to eating local and organic, and setting up such a buying club is not quite as complex as you might initially believe. Let’s take a closer look at how such an arrangement would work, how to set one up, and how everyone will benefit.

Why Organic and Local Food?

You may have heard that organic food is better for you, but what’s the big deal about eating local? Does that make a difference?

It can. Eating local offers a variety of health, environmental, and economic benefits including:

• The creation of fewer emissions, since food isn’t being brought in from far away
  
• Money going right back into your local economy
  
• Lower environmental impact of food production, including the usage of fewer pesticides and less fertilizer

Additionally, organic produce is often better for you than conventionally grown produce that would be shipped in from larger farms. Some studies have shown that they contain more vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients.

When you’re buying locally, you’re making an impact. So if more people in your neighborhood are buying local, you’ll end up having a much larger and more positive effect on your local community.

Organizing Cooperative Buying

To organize cooperative buying of local produce you’ll need buyers and you’ll need suppliers. This means talking to people in your neighborhood and gauging interest in such an arrangement. If people are interested, you then need to find local farmers who share your values. Once you have a group of people who want to buy local produce and a farmer that’s ready to supply you, you’re ready to go.

It may seem difficult to approach people with this idea at first, but if you start with neighbors you already know you can begin making connections. If you get some people on board with the idea, they’ll get others on board and your cooperative will continue to grow.

Benefits of Cooperative Buying

Cooperative buying of local organic produce offers several benefits:

• Access to high-quality products at a lower cost, similar to bulk or wholesale prices
  
• A greater sense of community with your neighbors
  
• A better connection with local businesses and farmers
  
• A reduction of carbon emissions
  
• A reduction in the amount of packaging used

All in all, setting up this kind of arrangement pays dividends for you, your neighbors, farmers, and even the environment. Plus, you get the chance to learn from your neighbors and see how they’re making use of all that delicious organic produce!

Learn More About Organic Eating!

If you want to learn more about healthy eating and buying locally, visit the Organic Restaurants blog. We have plenty of tips about how to make a difference with your food choices and support organic farmers.