Why buy local and organic food? What is “Sustainable agriculture”?
Since this is a Rookie Tip after all, I’ll keep it simple: when you are shopping for food and have two choices in front of you, always pick the one that is local, and preferably organic, if you can afford it and when you can find it.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
- This link has an introduction to Sustainable agriculture, but the official definition is this: Sustainable agriculture is a way of raising food that is healthy for consumers and animals, does not harm the environment, is humane for workers, respects animals, provides a fair wage to the farmer, and supports and enhances rural communities.
Why Local?
- Anytime you’re decreasing the steps between the farm and your table, you’ll not only help out your local farms, but you’re food will also have a higher nutritional value.
Why Organic?
- Buying organic means you’ll eliminate your pesticides/chemical exposure when it comes to produce, and organic in other foods means things like no HFCS, no trans fat, no GMO’s, and no chemical preservatives or artificial colors & additives.
photo by Annia316
FOODS/PRODUCE RATED MOST HEALTHY TO LEAST HEALTHY:
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Organic and local – not always easy to find, so when you see it, snatch it up!
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Local, but not organic - this is what I can usually find the most of at our farmer’s market in the summer. Surprisingly, there are still not as many organic growers as I’d like to see.
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Organic, but not local - sadly, this is mostly what we eat from the store all winter…but I’m canning more this summer! (Read this great post from Kristen about Why organic isn’t enough.)
- Not local OR organic – but if this is all you can find, eat fruits & veggies anyway – see the pocket sized chart below for which are OK to buy conventional and which are not.
(UPDATE) I need to add one exception: For meat and dairy products, the most important thing is that it is from grass-fed animals. For example, Kerrygold butter is from Ireland (hardly local), is pasteurized (not ideal), and not labeled organic, but it is grass-fed so it has many more vitamins.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Bamboo 05.28.08 at 4:35 am
Hi Kelly,
You put local/not organic above organic/not local. Is there a reason besides supporting local farmers and gas, etc? Shouldn’t I choose organic whenever possible? I was at a little fruit/vegetable store the other day that I hadn’t been in before and they had some produce from the area, some not, and none of it was organic. I walked out and only got some overripe bananas that were on sale (oh, and a loaf of apple/cinnamon bread with no trans fats for a treat). I just couldn’t make myself buy the produce. Is my focus misplaced?
On the other hand… I discovered our Friday/Saturday farmer’s market in our town (well, only one trailer was set up, I don’t know if more will be there later in the summer) is local AND organic. What a treasure find! I believe them too because the radish leaves were all chewed up by bugs, lol. Between finding that a local raw milk source I feel like a child in a candy store! They can’t supply all that I need though, so I usually get organic at a grocery chain.
Thanks for helping me understand the heirarchy.
Beth
[Reply]
Kelly the Kitchen Kop 05.28.08 at 9:41 am
Hi Beth,
You’ve raised a great question, and one that is often the subject for hot debates.
I guess I think of it like this: if I’m at Meijer and see some organic tomatoes from Mexico, then later find some not organic, but local tomatoes at the farm market, I’ll pick the local every time. Others may disagree with me, but when food is shipped that far, it just seems so unnatural, and it must be less nutritious, even if only from a freshness factor. (Although I’ll bet there are other factors involved, too, like taste, etc.) It always just feels so good buying local foods (especially if they ARE organic) that are in season – it feels like the way things are supposed to be.
There are, of course, many environmental and other good reasons to eat local. (A couple you mentioned: supporting local farmers, which is no small thing, and saving on the transportation costs to get the food here.) And believe me, I wouldn’t want to eat something local that was heavily sprayed, but I do know that many local farmers are more organic than not, they just can’t afford the time or money involved in getting the organic label. I always ask the farmers at the farm market, and often this is the case. (Sometimes you’ll just see a sign that says, “grown without chemicals” or something like that.)
Hope that helps! There are also some good articles on the topic if you google, “local vs. organic”.
I’d love to hear other’s thoughts on this!
Take care!
Kelly
[Reply]