Gone Local
Whether you’re a greenhorn or a veteran to the eco-friendly way, we’re sure you’ve heard of the phrase, ‘local food’. But what difference does it really make? And just how local is local food, anyway? Well, once again, we at GreenPlate are here to answer all of your questions. Read on to find out about the ‘farm-to-table’ approach, and different ways to become a ‘locavore’.
What do you mean by ‘local’?
When buying local food, the goal is to simply purchase food as local as possible. Depending on the season, this may mean buying your apples from Washington State instead of having them transported from Australia. Whether from your backyard, your immediate community, or your country, getting food as close to home as possible will help reduce your food impact.
Why should I Support the Local Market?
The Transportation
Aside from its fresh taste, there are many environmental and economic benefits to purchasing local food. In the United States, a grocery store’s produce travels an average of 1,500 miles from its farm to your table. More than 50% of our food travels from overseas, resulting in tons of pounds of CO2 and other pollutants emitted by food transportation. More than 40% of our fruit is produced overseas, and roughly 10% of our red meat is grown in countries as far as New Zealand! Imagine all of the fossil fuels used to transport and refrigerate produce for all of those miles. To give you a clearer picture, about 3,150 pounds of CO2 is released into the atmosphere just to transport broccoli to your plate! These emissions contribute to climate change, acid rain, and smog.
The Packaging
In addition to the emissions, there is also the issue of plastic packaging. Every year, 3, 500,000 tons of plastic is used to accommodate meats, fruits, and vegetables stored in grocery stores. Major grocery store chains use over 5,500 tons of polystyrene for their meat trays alone, and if you read last month’s feature, you know that’s no good! This is particularly problematic because plastic used for food packaging is rarely eligible for closed-loop recycling. This means that more raw materials must be used to produce more food packaging material, using up more resources and creating more waste. Buying food from your local market will cut out the need for excessive packaging and cut down your food’s travel miles, keeping your food as fresh as possible.
The Economics
Contrary to what many people believe, it has become very difficult for farmers to make a living off of farming alone. Today, 79% of farmers in the United States were forced to take up another job! This is primarily because, within the global market, farmers receive only 10% of retail crop value, compared to the 90% they receive in the local market. Purchasing food from local farms not only secures the quality of life for the farmer families that work so hard to supply fresh produce to their communities, but it also creates more job and options for all of us.
Even Better, Go Sustainable, Too!
While we completely support buying food from local farms, we’re even more sold on buying from local, sustainable farms. These farms not only operate with regard to the local economy, but also to the wellness of the environment. Sustainable farmers strive for conservation and preservation, economic viability, animal welfare, and the overall health of their communities. By ensuring good stewardship of nonrenewable resources and using natural alternatives to chemicals, sustainable farmers are able to harvest fresh produce without having a negative impact on our environment. Ask your local farmer about his or her sustainability efforts.
Where do I Start?
If you’re new to the world of local food, it’s best to start by committing to purchasing one kind of food from your local market. For instance, maybe you’ll start by buying local fruits. Taste the difference, start learning about crop seasons, and grow from there. To find a sustainable farm near you, visit the Georgia Organics website. There you’ll find a searchable organic directory and an extensive local food guide. Happy Eating!