Salmonella scares and high gas prices may have an unintended benefit for West Virginia farmers.

State Department of Agriculture spokesman Buddy Davidson says people are starting to think about where their food comes from and may become more interested in locally grown produce.

He's encouraging people to get out and visit their local farm markets. Locally grown produce is fresher and cheaper because it doesn't require the same transportation time and costs.

While some farmers are still feeling the impact of last year's drought, many say the rainy summer has been much better for fruits and vegetables.

West Virginia has about 21,200 farms, most of which are family-run.