It should come as no great surprise that the eat local movement has grown exponentially over the past few years. People are becoming more conscientious about what they eat, and that means knowing where their food comes from. Local food is fresher and usually tastes better than the stuff you get at grocery chains, and the farmers who produce it are your neighbors, so there’s a bit more accountability.

What’s more, consuming locally produced foods is better for the environment and the local economy. By getting food from nearby farms, you cut back on harmful emissions associated with transporting truckloads of food from all corners of the country. And purchasing from local, independent outlets keeps more money circulating through the local economy. All in all, a pretty good bang for your buck.

Last year, the inaugural N.H. Eat Local Week took place with special dinners and events during the first week of August. Like the eat local movement itself, this celebration has expanded significantly in 2009. Gov. John Lynch has declared August N.H. Eat Local Month. Lynch, his wife Susan and Agriculture Commissioner Lorraine Merrill joined farmers and shoppers at the Concord Farmers’ Market on the morning of Aug. 1 to officially kick off the festivities.

Each month in August will carry a different local eating theme. The week ending Aug. 8 is New Hampshire Farmers’ Market Week, which coincides with the 10th annual National Farmers’ Market Week. Farmers’ markets have been growing both locally and nationally, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture reporting more than 4,800 markets operating across the nation.

With support from the Department of Agriculture and the N.H. Farmers’ Market Association, nearly 80 markets have cropped up in New Hampshire, including weekly markets in Portsmouth, Durham, Dover, Exeter, Hampton, Rochester, Rye, Kingston, Newmarket and Lee. For specific market times and locations, visit www.nhfma.org. Seacoast markets are detailed at www.seacoastgrowers.org.

Area farmers’ markets offer fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, meats, dairy products, baked goods, flowers and more. Farmers’ Market Week will include a variety of special events, including demonstrations, tastings, music and entertainment.

The theme of the second week of August is “Family to the Farm,” with events and activities designed to get families out to their local farms. The third week’s theme is “Sharing the Harvest,” emphasizing ways to help needy people obtain healthy, local food. The fourth week is dedicated to “Thinking Ahead,” with information on food preservation, season extension and traditional seasonal menu planning. 

To keep up to date on events and activities during N.H. Eat Local Month, visit www.nheatlocal.org or the Seacoast Eat Local site at www.seacoasteatlocal.org.