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It's a movement taking place across the country and in Arkansas, more and more people are forgoing national grocery chains and heading to local farms and farmers' markets to buy locally grown foods.
Locally grown foods not only satisfy many consumers, but also many farmers, who say it is a way for the local farm to survive in the 21st century.
Jody Hardin has been in the farming business nearly all of his life, but never has his produce been so in demand.
(Jody Hardin, Arkansas farmer) "We're seeing this incredible move back to growing food the way we used to, most of our food coming from the local farming economy."
More and more, Arkansans are shunning major grocery chains and mass produced fruits and vegetables in favor of foods grown here in Arkansas by Arkansas farmers like Robert Lashely, who grows chemical and pesticide free produce.
(Robert Lashley, Arkansas farmer) "There is a taste difference but there is also the fact that you can get some different fruits and vegetables that won't ride in the back of an 18 wheeler very well."
Across the United States, eating local has become so popular, there is new name for those who do it....Locavores and here in Arkansas Jody Hardin knows many of them by name.
(Jody Hardin) "Many people want to see the face of the person who grew the food that they're eating,that's been our battle cry."
Customers also like the benefit of knowing where their food came from, how it was grown and the fact it is often cheaper than imported food. They also want to support local farmers.
(Hardin) "In Arkansas it's interesting because the west coast and the northeast really embrace the community supported agriculture model, which is prepaying for your food and being an investor in small farms-we're really trying to promote that here in Arkansas."
And one way local farmers are doing that is with their basket a month program.
Customers pre-pay for the baskets, which in turn vests them in the local farms and at the end of the month pick up their basket filled with whatever is in season.
(Emilee Nilsson, customer) "We try to really support the local farmers and the environment, a lot less pesticides and all that and also the taste-nothing beats like fresh produce."
Positive comments, such as Emilee's, have convinced Jody Hardin of a major shift in the way Arkansas shop for food.
(Hardin) "People are realizing local food has everything they need."
In order to capitalize on the popularity of locally grown food and make it more available to Arkansans, Jody Hardin and other Arkansas farmers, will open the certified local farmers market in North Little Rock's argenta district on May 3rd.
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