You really have to put time and energy into getting local food. It can be almost as convenient as a one-stop grocery store (if a Farmer’s Market) but I think that is not often the case. Today, I’d like to talk about why buying local food is important.
Next week, I’d like to talk about how each of us goes about finding local food. I don’t have all the answers, and my geographic location is different than yours, so I am definitely looking for what you can add to next week’s topic, as well as today’s!
Why Local Food?
1) Economic Benefits – It is important to support your local growers and businesspeople. Your dollars go somewhere, so why not put them where they can have the most impact? If all of us were to buy food from local people, food conglomerates will collapse. But let’s get real, that’s not likely going to happen, because not all people are going to switch over (but we can dream, right?). So we could say those food conglomerates are untouchables. Therefore, whether you buy from them or not, they’ll still roll in the cash and control the market.
I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend my money where it makes a difference! And it does, if we put it into the hands of a local grower or farmer. Now you’re talking impact. A local grower, a local business can succeed because of you and where you spend your money! I think this is exciting.
My personal strategy is to spread our food dollars around to as many local merchants as much as possible. I mean, I buy as much as I can locally, and I buy from as many merchants as I can locally. On my shopping list, there are three vegetable/fruit farms, a chicken/egg/turkey farm, a store featuring local food (our purchases there indirectly support others with whom we don’t have personal contact), and a grass-fed beef ranch.
Incidentally, this doesn’t only apply to food. Think about other buying choices, whether it is Wal-Mart versus the local store for consumable items, the big feed store or the smaller one in your town, the big hardware store or the small independent service company which also sells retail products. If you can spare some extra dollars, your purchases will have a huge impact on people in your own community! Huge.
2) Health Benefits – Not only are we more healthy, but our world is more healthy with local foods.
Focusing on our own health – local foods are fresh and usually more naturally grown. That’s a simple equation for a more healthy you.
Focusing on our world – local foods don’t require a huge transportation footprint. To ship food around: fuels are required to ship foods long distances, the burning of those fuels pollutes our world, and additional traffic on the highways increases chances of accidents and lessens our enjoyment when we are on the road.
3) Relationship Benefits – Getting to know your farmer or your local store owner is fun! I love it that almost whereever we go, we know and are known. The relationship grows. This feels good, and it also comes in handy when you run into other people who are looking for this or that. Getting in touch with your local community can help you and others tremendously.
Can you think of any other benefits of seeking out and purchasing local food (or other items)? I am sure this list is not exhaustive and I’d greatly appreciate any other thoughts you have!
Keep in mind that next week, I’ll start a discussion on how to find local food. So think about your tips and be ready to share them!
This post is part of Fight Back Fridays! at FoodRenegade.
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Thanks, Wardee! You’re really inspiring. I have kind of a funny question: Do you think consuming the foods that are grown locally, in our climate, are better for our bodies than ones that cannot be grown in our climate? I mean, since our bodies are already adapted to living in our environment (altitude, humidity, etc) wouldn’t the plant-foods that also thrive in that environment be better for our bodies? Since back in history there were hardly any ways to eat anything except local produce, it seems like the people groups living in each geographical region would have foods accesible to them that were not available in other areas. I have no idea, just a funny thought that popped into my head. 🙂
Brenna – I think that is a great point! I would not be surprised if there is a great deal of truth in that. Thanks for sharing!
Local food just tastes better! I’ve been buying eggs from a neighbor this summer and they are gorgeously deliciously deep yellow. Baked goods fluff up better with those eggs too. The grass-fed beef we eat is so satisfying, much more than any Costco cut. The first time we ate it, we couldn’t stop talking about our dinner for hours!
Have you read “Animal, Vegetable, Mineral” yet? After reading that book, I am more thankful for my food and think that eating seasonally and locally increases gratitude too.
You touched on this but I’d like like to re-emphasize the nutrition of eating fresh, local food. It’s picked when it’s ready, therefore it has more nutrients. It isn’t travel-weary, as is produce which comes from 1000s of miles (even other continents!) away. It’s just optimum produce at the optimum time. I love it!
For me, it’s really challenging me to become aware of what’s season where I live. I had never paid much attention before, with a few exceptions. I love getting (slightly) more in tune with the earth, and how God designed things to work geographically. So interesting!
To Christie – I read “Animal Vegetable Miracle” by Barbara Kingsolver (is that the one you mean?) this spring, and *loved* it. I know what you mean about it increasing our gratitude for food. It’s easy to take “fresh” tomatoes for granted when you can eat them all year long…but waiting for the right/ripe time really sweetens the payoff!
.-= Mindy´s last blog post… hit the beach! =-.
LOL … yes, Mindy, I mean *that* title … such a miracle, our food.
I couldn’t agree more. I’m so tired of our hard earned US dollars going overseas and/or out of the country when our economy is struggling. There are so few things we actually produce in the states anymore that makes a difference..but FOOD is one of them! Buy local and buy from the little guy who is working hard to complete in a big box store world. Thanks so much for encouraging us in this direction!
I just stumbled upon this while looking for an easy guide to sprouting for a friend of mine, and I’d like to add my two cents to the discussion…
Brenna – you’re on to something. I don’t have any documentation on this handy, but one thing I’ve learned from a local producer is that you are ALWAYS supposed to eat local honey. The bees know what’s good and what’s necessary to survive in your area, and not surprisingly, what’s good for the bees is good for you too. I can’t see why plants would be much different, you know?
This is a lovely little website… keep up the good work!
I agree with all of you. I wanted to share a link that compares a conventional supermarket tomato with an organic locally grown tomato.
http://newfarm.rodaleinstitute.org/features/0904/bargain_wkst_print.shtml
It basically says everything already said here.
.-= Marg´s last blog post… Critters =-.
Thank you to everyone for the wonderful additions to this discussion!
Christie – yes, I have read that book. One of my favorites!
Marg – That is a fantastic link! Thank you for sharing it.
To some extent: packaging. Grocery store carrots come in a plastic bag, as do some apples, oranges, potatoes, and onions in a plastic net bag. Honey comes in small plastic containers as well. I’m sure there are a lot more I haven’t named.
.-= Marg´s last blog post… The barn roof =-.
Marg – yes, packaging! I have such less packaging now that I shop locally. I use take my own boxes or bags along to bring things hope (at least I try to remember). If not, some of the farms send boxes with me and I return them the next week.
I couldn’t agree more. Let’s start putting money into our local business rather than into the pockets of supermarket giants.
One more thing. You mentioned the health benefits but failed to mention that it simply tastes so much better than your corporate 60% meat, 20% water, 10% additive, 10% preservative!
.-= Billy Bob´s last blog post… Brit Farmers =-.
Billy Bob – yes, I agree! The tastes are divine…
You made a good point that having a good relationship with a local food market owner would be ideal in the long run. My baby recently started being able to eat solid food so I think it’s about time that I become more serious about meal preparation to make sure that all our meals are healthy. I think I’m going to be frequenting a local market more often soon.