Why local?

Have you ever left a supermarket frustrated at the lack of fresh, quality produce available? I’d often hear the elders remark that “food just doesn’t taste as good as it used to” and with good reason. The complex process of how food travels from the farm to the supermarket and then to our plates has a profound affect on the foods we consume. The flavor and rich nutrients of the produce starts to diminish as a result of the food distribution process and foods being sold out of season.

It’s no secret that there is a direct correlation between food and health wellness so how our foods are grown and where it derives matter. So where does our food come from? Produce grown by farmers are sent to a factory to be packaged and processed. The processed food is then sent to a warehouse where it will later be  shipped out via plane, train, or truck to the supermarket and placed on shelves for days or weeks before anyone purchases it. The preservatives and packaging of the food helps to maintain its shelf life as it awaits to be bought by, you, the customer.

Once purchased, the food is on its way to its final destination: your plate. Your food travels quite a distance before it ever enters your mouth. No wonder “food just doesn’t taste as good as it used to.” Before we had mega food chain stores, people would buy food fresh from their local farmer or pluck ripe vegetables straight from their own backyards. While there have been attempts to include non processed produce at supermarkets, on the whole, the best quality food anyone can purchase is from a local farmer’s market, a community farm, or a supermarket that primarily sells organic foods although the latter option can become pricey.

Why local? When you purchase your foods locally from a farmer, you are typically receiving seasonal produce that has not been covered with preservatives. Not to mention that locally grown foods are bursting with rich flavors and are the most nutritional in value for your body. Your food doesn’t travel thousands of miles before you get to enjoy it. You can build a close relationship with your farmer and learn exactly how the food is grown, how it is cultivated, and can see first hand where it comes from. You can also learn a lot about what foods are in season and increase your knowledge in agriculture in general.

Furthermore, an often underestimated and underappreciated reality of buying local is the economic benefit it has for the entire community.  When a community member purchases a product from a local distribution channel, they are in essence circulating their hard-earned dollars back into the hands of folks that are more likely going to redistribute it into their community.  This is a very different dynamic than going to a big box store where our money goes to corporate executives that may live thousands of miles away, completely indifferent to the uniqueness of each town, hamlet, or city.  It can be argued that where we spend our money is one of the most significant and powerful tools of social change.  There are so many great reasons to support locally grown foods.

The other wonderful thing to recognize is that healthy food does not have to be expensive. Search for a farmer’s market or community farm that sells its produce at a reasonable rate. The Lincoln Park Community Farm not only provides a generous bundle of fresh vegetables and herbs at just $20 per share, but we also have cooking demonstrations to teach you how to spice up your food and keep it creative.

Buy local!

michelle raysor – community sustainability intern