It’s a trend not only good for the environment but also good for small farmers and local agricultural industries as well is eating locally grown foods or “locavore” lifestyles.
“Eating local” is all about eating foods that don’t need to be shipped thousands of miles before reaching your local grocery store or are covered with artificial substances just to ensure that it lasts long beyond its natural period of freshness. The “eat local” trend is about adjusting our diets to eating food that is in season within the regions we live in.
We’ve become so used to being able to buy whichever fruit or vegetable we want whenever we want even if it is not in season or grown beyond our region. That convenience we are so used to play a significant impact on the environment when that particular fruit or vegetable we desire has to be shipped via air or roadway thousands of miles. According to the Washington non-profit group, Worldwatch, food sold in American supermarkets travels on average about 1,500 miles from farm to the consumer. That is a 25% increase from 1980.
When you really think about it, that is a lot of fuel consumption and pollution created all to satisfy our desire for out of season and out of region foods. The challenge for supporters of the local food movement is to discover tasty and interesting diets that can be grown within a 100-300 mile radius of communities.
If you have questions about what types of produce is avaialbe at different times of the year in your community is at your local farmers’ market, food co-op or organic food store. In fact, any local food shop that focuses on healthy locally and ethically grown foods should be able to provide you with some answers to your questions.
CSAs or Community Supported Agriculture are another development in the local food movement. The assist in making the locavore lifestyle more sustainable. CSAs are an agricultural business model that help connect local organic growers directly with consumers. They help struggling farmers connect with a steady group of consumers.
Yes, it’s true in the wintertime CSA distributions may have less of a variety than summertime distributions but with a little creativity and wonderful winter recipes eating local can be remain very tasty throughout the year. Winter CSA distributions tend to include root vegetables that farmers have stored in cellars in addition to freshly harvested produce. Choices of produce for those in northern climates may include kale, carrots, leeks, potatoes, rutabagas and beets.
It’s all about education. The more consumers know, the more they’ll demand the choice and availability of home grown food. Thankfully, the popularity of the locavore as a movement is helping educate consumers about the nutritional and ecological benefits of eating locally. This is great news for small farmers and entrepreneurs who all contribute to the home grown food we’ve all come to love and to re-discover.
For over 20 years, Diana Walker has assisted people like you in using natural, safe options for creating vibrant health and well-being. Get her gems of wisdom and healthy recipes mini- e-book via her free newsletter at: http://www.diana2.com
