Reasons for eating local
After starting my change for eating local, the July 3 Vancouver Sun Business section had an article on "Shoppers think global, then buy local". This is a business related article about the increasing sales at farmers markets and retailers such as Capers. But what I liked was the reasons that research shows why this local conscienceness is happening.
#4. selection, freshness, less pesticides,
#3. support local farmers,
#2. there's the taste of course,
... and the number one reason to eat locally is - drum role please - environmental conscousness!! (81% survey respondents) This means reducing pollution and CO2 emissions from vehicles transporting food from average 1500 miles away. Transportation of food is #2 cause of global GHG emmisions and thanks to the IPCC and Mr Gore, everyone is looking for ways to reduce GHGs. (now, if these GHG conscous people would just walk/cycle to their local market, then I'd be even more excited ... but that's another topic)
70% of local shoppers have increased their local purchases in past two years and 65% are willing to pay more for it.
Another reason mentioned is that usually distant harvested foods are often preserved with waxes, irradiation, gases and synthetic chemicals such as fungicides and sprout inhibitors which reduce the nutritional value ... and has uncertain effects on health.
Now how is one to know if something is local?? Marketers can use "local" just like they use "natural" or "fresh" or "good"; there is no industry standard. My answer: ASK! If your produce manager can't tell you, it's not a good sign. But of course if you go to farmers markets, you can ask the farmer ... and ask how many acres they have, what they spray, when it was picked, how much longer it will be in season, how to prepare it, what else they grow. Is Okanagan or Queen Charlotte Islands considered "local"? That's for you to decide. In my books, the closer (and organic) the better. Of course, if you're going for the 100-mile thing, then Okanagan fruit and QCI fish are out of range.
Does this sound like ALL the reasons to eat local? No, there are more ... stay tuned.
See you at the Farmer's Markets (www.eatlocal.org):
Wednesday's 2-6:30 at Nat Bailey Stadium
Saturdays 9-2 at Trout Lake Community Centre
UBC Farm, 6182 South Campus, Saturday 9 - 1
West End, Nelson Park Saturdays 9:30 - 2
Granville Island Thursdays 9 - 6
Kits Community Centre Sundays 10-2 starting July 15
Surrey 10275 135th Street Saturday 9 - 2
Lonsdate Quay Saturday 10 -3; Wednesday 11-5
Richmond, Cambie Community Centre 10 - 2 Sunday
Coquitlam Rec Centre Sunday 9 - 1
Whiterock, 1400 George Street Sunday 9 - 1
