Buying produce at the local farm stand is a pleasure that began for Diane Snook when she lived in Hammond, she said recently as she deposited fragrant, fresh peaches into her bag.

"These are for fried green tomatoes," Snook said, pointing to her other purchase of green orbs she selected at Reel's Farm Stand on Lowell's far east end.

While Snook said she shops local farm stands because she finds them less expensive, there are many other reasons to purchase locally grown products, Purdue University experts say.

That's why Purdue and other organizations have joined to encourage Indiana consumers to eat at least one locally grown food at each meal during "Going Local Week" from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6.

"Some like the pleasure of eating freshly harvested food while others like knowing where the product came from," said Maria Marshall, Purdue extension agriculture economics specialist and chair of the New Ventures Team.

"There's also concern for the environment. The average tomato travels 1,560 miles from the field to the grocery store," Marshall said, adding that the economic benefit to the local community and state is another reason to buy local.

At Lane's End Farm, an organic vegetable farming operation in Eagle Creek Township, co-owner Liz Aquino said buying locally means higher quality.

"If a tomato travels 1,500 miles, think how many hands, how many pallets, how many trucks have touched it," Aquino said. "As soon as any vegetable is picked, some of its nutrients and flavor are gone. When you buy locally, you know your farmer. Usually, one person touched it."

Ralph Hernandez, vice-president of marketing for Wilco County Market, a grocery chain with Amelia's in Winfield and County Market stores in Cedar Lake, Rensselaer and Lowell, said most of his business' produce is purchased through a broker, but "our preference is always to buy locally...We'd love to do a lot more."

Wilco County Market regularly buys its herbs, pumpkins and sweet corn locally, he said.

The Herr Farm in Lowell is one of Wilco's local suppliers. Melons come from Vincennes, Hernandez said.

Likewise, the Strack & Van Til stores offer local produce as much as possible, said Mark Wise, produce buyer.

"I sent an e-mail out at the beginning of the season telling our stores to support our local farmers as much as they can," Wise said. "Actually, I always love this time of year -- that garden-fresh taste. The quality is usually exceptional."

He said Scheeringa Farms, of Highland, is one local producer his company uses.

Rachel Laud, of Shelby, mans the Reel's Farm Stand operated by the Witvoet Family Farm, a 50-acre vegetable growing operation in south Lake County.

"People complain about subdivisions being built and farmland developed. Then they go to the big stores to buy produce," Laud said, applauding Purdue's promotion of eating that which is grown locally.

Marshall said it is hoped that "Going Local Week" will create an appreciation among consumers for the variety of food grown in Indiana.