Buying locally grown produce is important for a number of reasons:
Nutrition
Truly local produce is fresher and healthier, retaining more nutritional value than food traveling long distances. Produce from a farm like Dukes Farm is always fresher and more nutritious than produce from a grocery store. This means better flavor; and more vitamins, minerals, and probiotics on your dinner plate. Dukes Farm stands out by making sure every vegetable we sell is fresh-picked,* making sure that nutrition is a priority.
Food Safety
Dukes Farm follows the food safety guidelines set forth in the Food Safety Modernization Act. As a small operation, our food is harvested, packed and delivered to you using far fewer steps than food found in a grocery store. We also use food safe sanitizers certified by the EPA that are known to kill coronaviruses in our packing and storage facility, as well as our delivery vehicle. And home delivery is what we already do: you can get your food safely delivered to your doorstep, every week during the season. To learn more about Dukes Farm food safety, please visit our Food Safety Page.
Environment
Your vegetables travel many hundreds of miles less than typical grocery store produce, meaning much reduced fuel consumption during transportation. Also, Dukes Farm exceeds USDA Organic growing standards, making sure your produce is safe for your family, and the environment.
Economy
More of your produce dollar enters the local and regional economy, helping to keep jobs and investment in the Upper Peninsula. Dukes Farm also recognizes that your family’s budget is important. We offer our products at prices Upper Peninsula customers can afford. We think that fresh, safe, local produce does not have to be a luxury item.
* Some vegetables are typically cured after harvest and before sale, including winter storage items, such as onions and winter squash.
