AR
UR
More and more people today are buying fresh produce and other food items from local vendors. In definition, local food is simply what you buy directly from farmers, fishermen and other food producers in the community.
Traditionally, people used to buy everyday fruits and vegetable items from local farmers' market in their neighbourhoods instead of going to a supermarket for frozen and processed foods. However, the surge of e-groceries such as FreshToHome have expanded the possibility of getting the same quality and freshness in food items just as a traditional farmers' market without the need to step out of the home.
Launched in 2019, FreshToHome has become a household name in the UAE in a short duration. It has become a preferred choice among people for buying fresh produce such as poultry, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, along with other food items such as ready-to-cook, bakery and pantry items. The platform sells 100 percent clean label for items which as prepared with a few, easily-identifiable ingredients.
Significantly, FreshToHome sources its supply from handpicked local food producers in order to eliminate all middlemen. This further reduces the costs and ensure the delivery of fresh food items from farm or coast to home within 24 hours of harvest.
Some of the health benefits of buying local from an e-grocery such as FreshToHome include:
· Local food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious. For instance, fruits and veggies tend to lose their nutritional value as soon as they are picked. If people buy imported and out-of-season fruits and veggies from the supermarket, it is high possibility that they are often picked unripe and are further artificially ripened in transit. Such food items can adversely impact the health and wellbeing of consumers. On the other hand, locally grown fruits are given adequate time to ripe and picked fresh in season. Therefore, consumers receive food items that are highly safe for consumption.
· Furthermore, when buying fresh produce off grocery shelves, it is likely that many of them have been kept in stick for days. These food items can contain harmful chemicals that can negatively impact the health of consumers.
· It is important to point out that all FreshToHome products undergo regular tests at the country's leading labs to ensure that they are free of all chemicals, antibiotic-residues, preservatives and other additives.
· FreshToHome ensure that the shelf-life is not increased beyond the capacity and also offer a money-back guarantee on quality and freshness. The platform ensure the delivery of products is conducted in temperature-controlled vehicles and vacuum packaging to ensure the highest level of safety and hygiene.
· People are further recommended to say no to ultra-processed foods, such as frozen pizza and microwaveable meals which are very low in nutritional value. These products have been linked to obesity and a higher risk of other diseases among consumers. A 2021 study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) confirmed that increased consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can be linked with a substantially greater 5-year body weight gain and increased risk of obesity.
· FreshToHome provides a wide range of ready-to-cook food along with chef-inspired recipes and convenient meals that taste just like freshly prepared home-cooked food with necessary local ingredients. The platform also offers minimally processed options including leafy salads and pre-cut vegetables to fulfill the needs of consumers. FreshToHome’s express delivery service also ensures that these items are delivered to your doorstep within 90 minutes of order.
· Buying local produce also helps in eating mindfully.
· At the same time, eating local also has a lot of economic and environmental benefits. Since there is no middleman and extensive shipping and packaging costs involved, local food is comparatively more affordable.
· Moreover, buying local food helps in expanding and thriving local food producing communities. It further helps in preserving green and open spaces for increased produce. For instance, FreshToHome sources fresh produce from handpicked local suppliers and donates any excess stocks to charitable organisations in order to facilitate positive social and economic impact of buying from e-grocery platforms.
· Noting that the food you are buying is not travelled from long distances, you are helping in the reduction of CO2 emissions. Shorter the distribution chain, lesser is the environmental waste and food wastage.
Consider these factors while shopping for everyday food and grocery items to benefits from health and environmental factors of local produce in your kitchen.
For more information please visit : https://ae.freshtohome.com/
SOURCE: Khaleej Times