Causecast

by CLAIRE DALTON, Contributing Writer

With increasing coverage on eating “green” in the media these days, many of us have tried our best to buy organic fruits and vegetables or seek out free-range chicken when possible. If you’re anything like me, you might be looking for a better way to eat responsibly.

Or maybe you’re just not sure what the hype is all about. Free-range, organic, local, sustainable, pesticide-free, it’s all a bit overwhelming and it’s hard to figure out what’s legitimate and what’s just smart marketing. So let’s first look at the big picture, shall we?

Why local?

First off, you should understand there are a number of ways that the foods you eat can be positive for the environment, for livestock, for your health, and even sometimes for your wallet. The main reason folks are starting to eat locally is because it requires that the food travel less distance, cutting down transportation costs and minimizing the pollution associated with travel. This also means that the food you get is fresher and tastier.

But many also are concerned about the pesticides on crops or the quality and contents of feed that livestock and poultry are given. One of the best ways to ensure the quality of your food is to close the distance between the product and your kitchen table, including talking with your local farmers. Even organic produce may use pesticides, with lower levels of synthetic chemicals, so don’t hesitate to ask about how your food is grown-it’s one of the many benefits of keeping it local. And don’t forget, supporting your community is always a great way to ensure its livelihood and increase your quality of life.

So, you in? Here are a few ways you can make it happen

FARMERS MARKETS AND STANDS: This produce comes straight from the source; you can’t get much better than that. Sure, it’s not quite as convenient as heading to the Piggly Wiggly or Safeway, but all of the income the farmers make from these sources go straight back into the food they provide, in stark contrast to the 20 cents on the dollar farmers typically receive from other sources.

BRINGING THE COWS (AND VEGGIES!) HOME: Don’t wait for the farmers to come to you—go to the farm yourself. Many farms offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscriptions, where you can purchase a “share” or “membership” to receive a box of season produce each week during the farming season. Similarly, you can also contact farms directly for your meat, including requests for specific cuts. This also gives you the opportunity to choose livestock and poultry raised cage-free, without hormones, or whatever else you desire. To find farms in your area offering these services, check out Local Harvest.

BECOME A PATRON AT GROCERS, CO-OPS, AND RESTAURANTS THAT BUY LOCAL: If you can’t make it straight to the farmers themselves, one great option is to support your local grocers and co-ops who sell local produce. If you become a member of a co-op, you can also attend co-op meetings and influence what items are sold there, further ensuring the availability of local produce in your community. Many restaurants will try to buy locally, though each will have a different idea of what constitutes as “local”. Ask about how far their vendors will go for produce and about the sustainability of their sources. Merely advocating buying local and the various restaurants and grocers that practice it can make all the difference.

TRY YOUR HAND AT FARMING: Ok, so maybe that’s taking it a bit too far, but if you’ve got a backyard, you’ve got a garden waiting to happen. Produce and herbs such as bell peppers, tomatoes, cilantro, basil, cucumbers and lettuce are all incredibly easy to grow with a little attention. While you may not be supporting others in your community directly, you’re also not spending your money on cucumbers that have been sent 1,500 miles to your table (which is, according to the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, the average distance a fresh food item travels to reach your dinner table). And don’t forget, you can always join others for a community garden if you don’t have a local yard yourself. The American Community Gardening Association can help you find local gardens or start your own. Even if you’re in a city, don’t fret—rooftop gardens are proving more and more popular.

Concerned about the cost or worried about the convenience factor?

There’s a whole lot of ways you can curb the costs of buying local. (But keep in mind, if its not traveling as far, the cost of production is lower, and some of those savings may be passed along to you!) First, consider buying in bulk. You can buy an entire animal from farms and freeze it to eat throughout the year. If that’s a bit too much meat for you, split the meat with a few others. Besides, keeping your freezer stocked full saves energy and protects against freezer burn. A great way to add convenience to buying local is to meal share. Hook up with other nearby households that have CSA subscriptions and take turns making large meals using your fresh produce. You’ll be able to keep your menu exciting, and it saves you the need to make dinner each and every night.

Start eating locally

If you need to get a fire under your butt, you can pledge to eat local for a single meal, a week, a month, or longer for the 100 mile diet or join the Eat Local Challenge.

So give it a try, and enjoy and share the benefits of eating locally.
Photo by Crinity, flickr