Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Do food miles matter?
Check out this interesting article challenging some of our assumptions about food miles. (Click on the title above to be taken to the article.)
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Urban Environmental Leadership at Lesley University
Want to learn more about the Urban Environmental Leadership M.A. at Lesley University? Just click on the photo of this year's UEL cohort above.
I think that the issue with our food miles is not whether to eat local or not, but rather, to eat seasonally. Eating seasonally is actually the mantra of sustainable consumption.
ReplyDeleteThe article stated, "eating red meat or out-of-season fresh fruits and vegetables is going to generate a lot of climate-altering emissions, whatever distance they travel." If we drive down demand for foods that are unseasonal, then we automatically are reducing transportation/emission costs, and most likely, buying more local, seasonal varieties because that is what would be available to the consumer.
We have become used to(aka spoiled by)access to this movable feast-- strawberries in the dead of winter, bananas all year long-- etc. We certainly don't need strawberries and bananas all year long (admit it, unseasonal bananas taste like chalky glue).
First things first, people need to get educated on seasonality. There are charts available, print one out and take it to the grocery store. And trust me, you'll never buy strawberries in January again...
Not only is local an issue, but it should be incorporated into the broader philosophy of eating (and living) ethically: farms large and small (as well as businesses large and small) should pay their workers a living wage, use sustainable practices and (ideally) be locally sourced. Eating ethically means meat not from CAFOs (or, if you swing that way, no meat at all) and supporting businesses that support these ethical standards. As irritating as those Whole Foods bags are ("I have my standards, and I'm eating them for dinner"- SO smug!), we should have standards and we should be eating them.
ReplyDeleteThe article is really describing an instance of greenwashing--the oomph behind the Buy Local movement is centered on knowing your food producers, supporting entrepreneurs in your community, and eating food that have been grown sustainably. Industrial ag can try to co-opt the local tag to market some of its products in certain areas concentrated with conventional food production, but it doesn't have the same meaning as buying organic potatoes from a farm on the outskirts of your city, or pastured pork raised within a few hundred miles. If people understand "local food" as the whole package--sustainable practices, seasonality, fair labor, fair pricing for farmer and consumer, community engagement, *and* less distance--then local will always be the best choice.
ReplyDeletenot sure where else to post this? but it seems relevant
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ31Ljd9T_Y
sorry I clicked post too quickly but its a video from abc news about how some food from whole foods that is frozen and labeled organic is actually shipped from China. It says made in China in fine print on the back. sneaky sneaky whole foods! Maybe that's why its so expensive they have to ship it over seas.
ReplyDelete