Julia Child once said,
"People who love to eat are always the best people"
Julia would have really liked me.
I love good food. I once had a Croque Madame in Belgium that was so perfect, I think I might have teared up a little, and pesto in a fancy restaurant in Spain that blew my mind, but the food that I get really excited about are fruits and vegetables. It's a miracle, actually, that I have any friends at all, with vegetables so high on my list of interests. I can't help myself. If I had to trace back my love of produce, I think it might have all started with childhood memories like picking a ripe peach off the tree in my backyard, still warm from the sun, or popping open a pod, fat with a perfect row of sweet peas, or listening to my dad stand on the front porch commiserating with a neighbor on just how successful the "cuke" crop had been that year.
There's something sublime about fresh fruit and vegetables, "fresh", being the important word here. Have you ever picked strawberries right from the patch, sweet, flavorful, and so juicy that it stains your fingers red, and marveled at how different they tasted from the strawberries you grabbed from the grocery store? Or, think of summer barbecues made memorable by the perfect corn on the cob from your local farmer's market. You don't have to be a vegetable nerd like me to know that fresh and local produce just tastes better than blueberries from Chile, or cucumbers shipped from across the country.
Buying local fruits and vegetables just makes sense. When we make an effort to buy locally, we benefit in so many ways.
1. Local produce is better for you.
Not only does the asparagus or apple from your local farmer's market trump the grocery store wannabe in looks and flavor, but it's far and away more nutritious too!
An article on greenopedia.com, explains why:
"When we buy foods that have been grown across the country or across the world, it can take weeks or longer for that food to travel from the farm to your table. As a result, these fruits and veggies must be harvested prematurely, which prevents some of their nutrients from ever forming.
To compound the issue, foods are also treated with special gasses, which further delays their ripening (and their ability to form nutrients) in order to ensure they survive their long journey.
And since it takes so much time for the fruits and veggies to travel from the farm to your table, much of the nutritional value it did have before it was harvested has been lost by the time it reaches your plate."
2. Buying local is environmentally friendly
It's easy to see the benefits of recycling your soda cans, or walking to work instead of driving, but how does buying tomatoes from your local farmer help save the world?
Barbara Kingsolver, in her brilliant book, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, makes the environmental impact clear.
“The average food item on a U.S. grocery shelf has traveled farther than most families go on their annual vacations.”
She continues,
“Each food items in a typical U.S. meal has traveled an average of 1,500 miles....If every U.S. citizen ate just one meal a week (any meal) composed of locally and organically raised meats and produce we would reduce our country's oil consumption by over 1.1 million barrels of oil every week.”
That's a lot of oil! Who knew that buying local lettuce from farmer field, instead of picking up a bag from the grocery store, could make such a big impact on the environment.
3. Buying local benefits your community
"The money that is spent with local farmers and growers all stays close to home and is reinvested with businesses and services in your community." says an article by MSU extension, called "7 Benefits of Eating Local Foods"
Farmers depend on their community's support for their livelihood. When we buy from local farms, our money stays close, benefiting our local economies.
I know that every single one of us has got a lot on our plates. I'm not touting the virtues of buying local food to give you one more reason to feel guilty, or to make your life even more complicated. I know that it can be tricky to buy a local banana, (unless you live in the jungles of Mexico), or to find local produce in December. I am just putting it out there that making a few small changes can make a big impact on our health, our environment, our community, and our taste buds.
Today's a new day; let's make it purposeful!
Kara
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