BENEFITS OF BUYING LOCALLY GROWN PLANTS?

The best plants and produce comes from local farms and greenhouses. Choosing Long Island Grown products provides quality you can trust, see and – in the case of produce – taste !!

BUYING LOCAL SAVES ON ENERGY.

“Local plants” do not have a specific definition, but these plants have been grown within a 100-mile radius (some even say up to 225 miles). The farther plants travels, the more energy and gasoline must be used to get the plants to your garden. Buying local will save energy costs and valuable non-renewable resources.

SMALL FARMS. FAMILY OWNED.

The average farm in NY is 200 acres and family owned and operated (other states in the mid-west averaging 1000-2500 acres per farm). Long Island specifically averages about 100 acres per farm. Growers often come from generations of farmers who have lived and worked in their local communities.

SAFE FOOD AND PLANT SUPPLY.

When you buy local, you know where your food and plants come from! You also know that strict regulations and policies are put into place to keep your food safe for you and your family. In addition, when buy local trees, shrubs, annuals or perennials, you know they have already adjusted to our climate and soil.

PREVENTS LOSS OF OPEN SPACE.

Do you enjoy visiting the countryside where you see lush fields of crops, meadows of colorful flowers, and rolling pastures? Well, this should also serve as a reminder that our treasured agricultural landscape survives only when plant farms are financially viable. Spending locally makes development less likely.

TAKING CARE OF THE LAND.

Farmers play an important role in protecting our environment, helping to develop new technologies that minimize water usage, reduce carbon footprints, prevent soil erosion, and maintain the productive quality of their land for future crops! Their livelihood depends on it. Farmers are active environmentalists.

LOCAL PLANTS ARE “FRESHER”.

In general, locally grown plants come to the marketplace right when they are about to hit their peak bloom. Local growers can time their offerings better and adjust their inventory to the marketplace swifter than those who need to transport their products over a long distance. It also reduces the risk of foreign disease.

GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY.

Nearly one-quarter of New York’s total land area is utilized as Farmland generating sales tax, income tax and real estate tax revenue. Take into account the agritourism business and you’ve got a whole lot of tax revenue for New York State.

JOBS .. JOBS .. JOBS !!

New York agriculture supports thousands of jobs beyond those on the farm. Machine manufacturers, equipment dealers, suppliers, and produce distributors are all directly affected by the agriculture industry.