Real Reasons Why We Should Buy From Local Farmers
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Some people say the key to freedom is empowerment and self-sufficiency. Not everyone agrees, but most people who are concerned about the environment at all see that there really is a need for people to buy and use food from local growers.
Buying local is the first step in going organic. Many local growers don’t use the kinds of chemicals that big commercial farms use. What you’re eating is all natural, and when you purchase local organic, you don’t have to worry about the chemicals and pesticides that you’re putting into your body and into the bodies of family members – especially children who don’t need all those hormones and compounds. At the very least, you will be able to talk with the local farmer and ask what was used to grow the vegetables or what they fed their cattle.
When you buy from local growers, you’re also not contributing to the use of gasoline and other fuels that were needed to truck produce thousands of miles so you could buy it at the market. Sure, the local growers have to drive their products to the market, but it’s a much shorter distance!
It also costs about the same to buy local produce, so you really can’t argue that you can’t afford to buy local – and in most cases it tastes better, too. Of course it does, because it’s fresher. It came from the field to the market to your table, instead of spending several days in trucks and warehouses. If you had to do all that, you wouldn’t be quite as fresh either.
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Great idea, why buy food from people you don’t know. At least if you buy locally you know where it comes from and what kinda place it is. And it supports the community.
Organic Farming is the feel-good rather thank think-clearly politically trendy leftist movement of the day.
We spent centuries forceing agriculture further and further out while our cities and burbs expanded…
If you want to ‘buy organic’, you should find a lifestyle which isn’t dependant on living in an urban area. Write congress to support small farm rather than factory farm subsidizations. Petition local PTA’s for local produce and ingrediants in schools. Zone for private restuarants rather than the national chains with national supply networks.
Middle Class Professional movements like this often generate much more press than they do positive change.
Brian,
So you personally know some/all of the employees/cashiers at your local grocery store and refer to them on a first-name basis?
You know the farms and truck routes from where the food is being shipped/delivered?
Ever notice how all the apples in the fruit section look shiny? Chemicals do that.
Ever notice how after several days, the apples still look shiny? More chemicals do that.
I’ve walked by where the lettuce is stored and seen chemicals being sprayed at timed intervals. Preservatives (chemicals).
Helps the “community”? When you purchase food from a grocery store and pay tax, that goes to the economy/welfare. Remember the people wasting their existence that make more money monthly than you do providing customer support at your local call center?
ZEMudge,
In a perfect world…
In live in Nova Scotia, Canada in the city of Halifax.
The local farmers markets are outside the city about a 30-45 minute drive. I am within 5 minutes walking distance from Walmart and Sobey’s. I am 10 minutes walking distance from the Atlantic Superstore.
For me to buy fresh from the farmers would cost more in gas than to buy more at the above mentioned major chains.
Do not get me wrong, I will prefer to buy from local farmers, but it’s not financially practical for me personally.
Cheers.
Hmm, I love fresh garden vegtibles! Im hungy!
JT
http://www.FireME.To/udi
“instead of spending several days in trucks and warehouses”
Have you ever seen domestic fruit on sale out of season?
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/supermarket-apples-10-months-old/2008/01/19/1200620272669.html
Couldn’t agree more, but how did this make it to the front page of Digg ?
The Halifax farmer’s market is right downtown. I walk there every Saturday morning in 5 minutes.
A dollar spent at a locally owned store will make up to $14 in your local community. Not only is local food better for the environment it is much better for your local economy.
http://www.buythatlocally.com
“It also costs about the same to buy local produce.” Do you have some statistics to back up the claim? At least in Oklahoma the farmers prices are normally twice to three times what the supermarket charges.
Great article! We really enjoy buying local produce through our downtown farmers market, as well as our local health food store. Both for freshness and taste, you can’t beat home-grown fruits and vegetables!
Partially a response to logicwhitney
In vancouver in some cases the local farmers market prices are cheaper.
There’s always exceptions but if the market came twice a week I wouldnt be going to the supermarket for produce at all (I’m lucky enough to live a block from my local market)
You are exactly what my blog is all about. Do you mind if I add you to my blogroll?
Judy
http://www.localfoodconnections.com
Hi Judy,
We would love to be added to your blogroll. Hope to see you here often!
Once the industrial/military complex takes over, all our food will be processed, frozen, canned, nuked, dried or otherwise made unspoilable, to save on waste for the corporate interests. Our stomachs will become accustomed to this processed food to the point where we cannot survive on ‘old time’ farmed foods. Once the corporations own us in this way, a new slavery, serving in the production chain for sustenance will be brought about. Currently, Monsanto has bought up an patented most varieties of seeds and ‘old time’ gardening will soon be impossible. GMO’s also play a role in enslaving the world’s people to the corporation. First, do not conclude that corporate living is bad, Second, understand this is is not part of a deliberate corporate plot, but has been brought about by market-place forces – thats us!
I doubt anyone is against buying locally, but it is the convenience that is a deterrent. In order to get locally grown produce I have to go downtown to the farmers market, while it isn’t far, the traffic is insane and the parking is expensive. I would love to buy more local besides the little bit that has made its way into the Whole Foods near me but it has to be convenient too.
Great post nonetheless!
Great idea that more people should put into action! And yes, true freedom is being self-sufficient.
Mandy is there a web site or somewhere I can find a list of local farmers in the HRM that would sell their produce? I would love to buy right from the farms instead of the grocery stores. I have been to the farmers market, but I find it’s so crowded. Thanks.
Amiee
There are many reasons to buy locally ,but for all of the arguments for and against, the primary reason to buy locally …produce tastes better when it’s harvested at the peak of ripeness. Fruit that is left to ripen on the tree or on the vine until it is fully ripe will never survive the trip to a distribution center and then to a store.
To find a grower near you, use this search page: http://www.locavorenetwork.com/proximity
The more fresher the fruit and vegetable are, the more enzyme and nutrients we can get from them.
That is why when we do juicing, it its best to finish it within half an hour. Don’t refrigenerate if can.