Before we were a winery, Terrapin Station's vineyards were part of a family farm in rural Maryland. Like other farmers and watchers of the Bay, we are very concerned about over-development. As farms disappear we lose the benefit of their fresh products and the positive environmental impact they provide. By buying direct from Maryland farms and wineries, you help keep them profitable and growing. In return, you get the freshest, best tasting foods available! The same goes for Wine!
Top Five Reasons to Buy Local Food & Wine
1. Eating local means more for the local economy. A dollar spent locally generates twice as much income for the local economy.
2. Supporting local providers supports responsible land development. When you buy local, you give those with local open space - farms and pastures - an economic reason to stay open and undeveloped.
3. Eating & drinking local is better for air quality and pollution. Most food products, including wine, travel an average of 1,500 miles to reach the kitchen table. Transport is petroleum-intensive and releases dangerous emissions into the environment. According to the report Red, White and 'Green': The Cost of Carbon In the Global Wine Trade, how wine is transported actually has a greater impact on climate change than issues of organic versus non-organic viticulture.
4. Many local farms incorporate sustainable and/or organic farming practices, including reduced use of fertilizers and pesticides. At TSW, we carefully select varietals that thrive in our Eastern shore soil and climate, reducing our need for spraying.
5. Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story. Whether it's the farmer who brings local apples to market or the vintner who makes unique, local wines, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.
Sources: Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance and Green Your Wine
