Local Food

This is the first in a series of posts about buying and eating local food.

Local, hmm. Well local means, local. You know, around here. Not far away. For example if you wanted to buy local apples, you might choose a variety that grows in your state rather than some from Washington. Although apples from Washington would be more local than apples from China. Unless of course you live in China. The point is that local is a pretty flexible idea. But the reasons for buying local aren’t. The more local you buy, the less fuel is burned bringing the food to you, which may translate to less moola at the cash register. You’ll be supporting farmers (and the economy) in your neighborhood, region, country. Your food may be fresher and have less packaging.

People who prefer to eat locally are called Locavores. "Locavore was coined by Jessica Prentice from the San Francisco Bay Area on the occasion of the 2005 World Environment Day to describe and promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested from within an area most commonly bound by a 100-mile (160 km) radius." - Wikipedia

What the heck kind of word is locavore anyway? We promote eating local, but apparently even this can be taken to extremes. So join a CSA or shop at a farmer's market. But don't go overboard. Just make sure at the farmer's market that you are actually getting local goods. Some shady characters actually get shipments from all over the US just like the local supermarket and then sell them at the farmer's market just down the street. You might as well ask.

Next up in the series: Local Organic Farms and Dairies