Local Food

By Anne Consroe

Do you ever wonder about the food on your plate? Where was it grown? When was it harvested? It's pretty safe to say that most have never really thought about it. The truth is, a typical U.S. meal is comprised of items that have traveled an average of 1,500 miles—farther than most families go on their annual vacation. The local food movement aims to educate consumers on such issues, while cutting back on carbon emissions, supporting small farmers, and providing healthier food.

Local food benefits the environment as it bypasses transportation and refrigeration otherwise needed to transport food. It also helps support time-tested environmentally friendly farming techniques practiced by small farmers who value the environmental quality and sustainability of the land on which they live.

Buying local supports small diverse farming communities who have struggled over the past few decades. While large-scale factory farms bypass small rural economies by buying and selling largely outside of the community, buying locally-produced foods generates about three times as much money for local economies.

Organics have been shown to be mutually beneficial for the environment and consumers. There is no way to wash 100% of the pesticides off your fruits and vegetables. Pesticides are finding their way to streams and larger bodies of water, harming aquatic ecosystems.

So what can YOU do? Visit your local farmers’ market, or join a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program. Get involved and educated about your food. The environment, your local farmers, and your body, will thank you.

Photo from http://www.goinglocal-info.com.