Before you decide to eat locally, know this.
AJinBirmingham
Posts: 497
If the foods you like to eat aren't usually grown locally, there is a reason!
Eating locally usually means more fertilizers, pesticides and energy have been used to pound your local soil into growing food that grows better elsewhere, which is neither healthy nor eco-friendly.
Check out point #2:
http://www.cracked.com/article_19123_6-socially-conscious-actions-that-only-look-like-they-help_p2.html
(The other points are a good read too, but not about fitness.)
Eating locally usually means more fertilizers, pesticides and energy have been used to pound your local soil into growing food that grows better elsewhere, which is neither healthy nor eco-friendly.
Check out point #2:
http://www.cracked.com/article_19123_6-socially-conscious-actions-that-only-look-like-they-help_p2.html
(The other points are a good read too, but not about fitness.)
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Cracked is a comedy website. They have been shown to misrepresent information on many occasions. I would do my own research instead of trusting them.0
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the whole "eat only what's grown within 100 miles of you" diet/concept doesn't withstand any sort of logical scrutiny.
however, it appeals to some folks because it sounds deeply profound and makes for a nice bumper sticker they can put on their Prius (using environmentally sustainable adhesive, of course!).
:laugh:0 -
Eating local food is a good thing if you live somewhere hospitable to farming. Support your local economy and small businesses by going to farmers market and buying directly from the source. It's also a natural way to keep variety in your diet due to the seasonal nature of local food.
But pineapples, mangos, oranges, or many of my favorite fruits don't grow here. So I can't drive around with my eyes closed and smell my own farts.0 -
Eating local food is a good thing if you live somewhere hospitable to farming. Support your local economy and small businesses by going to farmers market and buying directly from the source. It's also a natural way to keep variety in your diet due to the seasonal nature of local food.
But I don't get pineapples, mangos, oranges, or many of my favorite fruits. So I can't drive around with my eyes closed and smell my own farts.
Same here. When I have the opportunity and the money, I like supporting local. There's a local dairy here - Shatto - and they make DELICIOUS milk products. But often I'm A) at a store that doesn't offer it and
too broke to afford 3.50 for half a gallon.
Also: Cracked for the win, yo. I can lose entire days to that site.0 -
Weird, I thought oranges and grapefruits weren't grown locally here in MN because of the climate....who knew.0
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Eating local food is a good thing if you live somewhere hospitable to farming. Support your local economy and small businesses by going to farmers market and buying directly from the source. It's also a natural way to keep variety in your diet due to the seasonal nature of local food.
But I don't get pineapples, mangos, oranges, or many of my favorite fruits. So I can't drive around with my eyes closed and smell my own farts.
Same here. When I have the opportunity and the money, I like supporting local. There's a local dairy here - Shatto - and they make DELICIOUS milk products. But often I'm A) at a store that doesn't offer it and too broke to afford 3.50 for half a gallon.
Also: Cracked for the win, yo. I can lose entire days to that site.
Indeed. It's kind of like Wikipedia ... click a link, ooh, what's this, click another somewhat related link ...
Don't ask how many hours I've wasted away at work on it0 -
My understanding is that it's about the freshness of the produce, which leads to better nutrient profile. Stuff that hasn't been grown in a hot house, picked before it's ripe and shipped to sit for two weeks in a grocery store generally tastes better too.the whole "eat only what's grown within 100 miles of you" diet/concept doesn't withstand any sort of logical scrutiny.
Obviously, if you don't live in the tropics and you want to do this you should be buying whatever is easily grown locally (here it's stuff like watermellon, squash, tomatoes, etc) rather than, say, mango.0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.0 -
Eating locally means the food, especially produce, will likely taste better because it's fresh. I love getting produce at the farmer's market. But other than that, meh.0
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Sorry, double post. Site is wonky today?0
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I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
ALLLLLLL of this.0 -
I live in California. Most of the farmers who sell locally, and in the farmer's markets, grow organically. So, wouldn't it depend on where you live? And, isn't that the kind of farming/eating we are striving for? If we don't support halting/imperfect efforts now how will the food industry get better at producing in the most environmentally friendly manner possible?0
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We will periodically dedicate a month to eating locally when we dine out, but that means going to Dale's Cafe, Ned's Tavern, Nick's Thai place, and the diner instead of Red Robin, Friday's, or as we like to call it, Pantera Bread. \m/ Keeps the money local instead of going back to big corporate. They use local suppliers for things instead of getting branded stuff from far away.
If we chose to eat food solely grown here, my gut would explode from eating that much corn and drinking that much milk, provided that I made it through the non-corn seasons on ummm... Mushrooms (443 million pounds produced annually in PA)?
Well, it'd make it easier to get to my goal weight.0 -
I eat locally whenever it's convenient. Preferably out of my own garden. When that's not available, from the local farmer's market. I do this because produce tastes better when it's fresh. And I love to eat fish I've caught.
But I'm certainly not eating ONLY local foods. I'm land locked and while I love to catch my own fish, I don't have time to do that as often as I like to eat fish. And many of the fish I love don't live in our local rivers, streams and lakes. I am begining to can and freeze more of my own produce now that we have a bigger garden, but local fresh produce year round is not an option.0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Totally agree with all of this. I wish I had room to plant a garden. I also grew up on a farm and we preserved everything for the winter from our produce as well. My mom bought cereal, flour, sugar and a few other staple items at the grocery every week. We joined a CSA this year and are getting awesome, local, organic produce every week.0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
QFT0 -
My favorites are the mini yellow tomatoes!!! So yummy and only available in season. And I hate red grape tomatoes from the store.Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes?0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
THIS.
We garden (think huge), raise chickens, turkeys and goats. We do all we can to say 'screw you' to government having anything to do with my food system. I seriously am one of those 'whole food' nuts that hates monsanto with a passion
So, while we're bashing local eating, I'll enjoy my month food swap with like minded people and enjoying real foods that are fresher than you can buy normally.0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Do you drive a Prius?0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Do you drive a Prius?
No. Do I seem smug?
Also, if you are trolling, that was pretty weak. You could do way better. Care to try again?0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Do you drive a Prius?
No. Do I seem smug?
Also, if you are trolling, that was pretty weak. You could do way better. Care to try again?
You DO drive a Prius!
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I buy local when I can and am part of a CSA which keeps me stocked up on organic locally grown produce. However I also love me some fruits and veggies that are just not happening here and I'm going to eat them and enjoy them regaurdless.0
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I have never once seen someone at a farmers market selling produce that isn't supposed to be grown around here. Different areas will have different stuff depending on the region. I would be highly suspicious if someone showed up here in the mid-west selling oranges and mangos or something.0
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LOL!You DO drive a Prius!
I love local produce but it's based on taste, supporting local farmers, and nutrition. It's also fun to shop outside at a farmers market But mostly its the taste. 0 -
I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Love this! I completely agree! We buy our meat from a farmer down the street, where we could actually see Miss Bessy before she was butchered for us! I like supporting my local economy!0 -
Sad thing where I am, farm stands and farmer's markets here aren't a guarantee it is local. We have had sweet corn at those for 2 months now, and generally corn isn't ready in my area till late july/august. I also have seen berries still in their original Driscoll's package there. I would love to eat local. I am just not sure I really could know for sure I am.0
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My chiropractor has an organic farm where he raises all kinds of organic produce and grass-fed cattle. We will be buying a side of beef from him when his cattle are ready for slaughter. This does two things - it supports a local farmer, and it takes the money out of the hands of companies like Monsanto as Monsanto has yet to patent grass...
When I'm able to (i.e. don't have kids to tote) I go to the farmer's market to buy my meat and veggies now. I also have my own garden (12x24) in my backyard that is starting to produce yummies. I purchased organic or heirloom seeds for my garden and have done no fertilizing/spraying. I pull the weeds myself and use my own compost, made from kitchen scraps.
Eventually, I'd like to do my own livestock and can enough from my garden to be about 75% self-sufficient. Of course, we'd still need fish (we love to fish, but don't have access to cold water fish) and we'd want some fruits that aren't available here - bananas, etc, however I hear you can grow your own pineapples in your house. I fully intend to try this. 0 -
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I eat largely local foods. I also grow a massive amount of my own food. I say largely because it's pretty hard to find, say, strawberries in the middle of january.
There are a number of reasons I do it, and they directly contradict you OP.
1) I can actually visit the farm I'm getting my foods from and see what their methods are. So, no, they're not guaranteed to be slamming the soil with pesticides. If they are, I go elsewhere. If they refuse to let me see their techniques, I go elsewhere. This is my #1 issue with this post. People who eat locally usually seek out farmers and patronize ones whose methods they agree with.
1a) The same goes for meats, which I *will not* buy from outside of the area. If I can't see how the animals are treated first hand, I won't buy the product. This is an ethical thing for me.
2) I'm not paying for the carbon footprint of having *all* of my veggies flown half way across the world.
3) Eating local usually means eating seasonal foods, which means fresher goods (less nutrition loss after the food has been harvested) because they don't have to be flown in. They also haven't been stored in a conagra/usfoods/primo produce warehouse for days awaiting transit.
4) Cheaper goods overall because there are no/fewer middle men. The farmer doesn't usually have to worry about logistics. I can go to a farm stand and buy my produce. No one has a chance to mark things up. That's why I can get sugar-sweet cantaloupes the size of basketballs for a dollar.
5) Foods can actually be healthier. Instead of having to harvest foods before peak ripeness so they ship better, and then artificially ripen them using ethylene, foods sold locally can be harvested at peak ripeness for sale.
6) A larger variety of foods are available. For instance, in the grocery store you will have on average 4 types of tomatoes - cherry, roma, vine, and beefsteak. Anyone who has had a garden or has regularly visited farm stands can tell you that that doesn't even qualify as the tip of the iceberg when you look at the thousands of different cultivars that are out there. Purple tomatoes? Green stripeys? Pinapple tomatoes? They're all out there, and all have different phytonutrients as well as different macros. Variety is good.
7) You are supporting your local economy.
8) It's easier to buy in bulk, or buy seconds. I can a lot, dehydrate a lot, and freeze a lot. For most of these, I don't need picture perfect produce. I can't go into a grocery store and ask for 2 bushels of apple seconds because they simply don't sell them. I can go to a local farmer and ask for that, and usually get them for a tiny fraction of the price (if they charge me at all). Likewise I can go to the local farmer asking for 10 bushels of apples to make cider, and they can do it without an issue. Plus they can cut me a great deal for buying in bulk. No such luck with a grocery store.
Now, that said, I can't get everything at farm stands. Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes... they just don't grow around here. So those things I'm ok with getting at the grocery store.
Disclaimer: I grew up on a farm, I have a large organic garden, and am on the board of directors for a grocery store.
Do you drive a Prius?
No. Do I seem smug?
Also, if you are trolling, that was pretty weak. You could do way better. Care to try again?
You DO drive a Prius!
Sorry... couldn't help but to bust out laughing at this... (*whispers* and carbon footprinting is just a marketing ploy that makes you feel guilty too but that's another thread)...
In any regard, while I realize there is a whole hoop of produce that can't be grown in my region... I still like to buy and grow what I can locally... It just tastes better.0 -
In the midst of our local farms resides a large nuclear power plant. I'd rather eat my 3rd world fruits and veggies.
Why?0
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