Is 'locally grown' really healthier?

"Locally grown" has become connected with "healthy" and "environmentally friendly," but is that always the case?
According to a HealthDay News report, even dietitians aren't in complete agreement on the subject, but it does seem that the message is a step in the right direction. "Most of what the locally grown movement is about is not eating processed foods from larger companies, but rather eating more natural, unprocessed, wholesome foods," said Dawn Jackson Blatner, a registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "A local apple may or may not be any better than an apple grown farther away, but it is most definitely better than an apple-flavored product you get from a package."
In general, dietitians believe that local produce is better than something that comes from farther away because the longer it takes to get in your hand the more nutrients are lost. Nuts and legumes, however, retain the same amount of nutrients and flavor no matter where they come from. Meat also retains freshness longer than produce, so locally raised becomes more about the animals themselves.
"It all depends on the farmer's methods," said Andrea Giancoli, a registered dietitian. "A local farmer may use the same methods as a big industrial farm. There's no guarantees that just because livestock is grown locally it's going to be better for you." People focused on healthy meat should ask how the animals have been fed, what their living conditions are like and whether they've been given antibiotics or hormones.
Basically, when it comes to what you eat, "the most important thing is that you choose healthy foods," said Blatner. "And, once you're done with that, wouldn't it be nice to have your food come from a local source?"