There is a lot of talk about buying organic and buying local produce. So which is better? Which one should you be looking for/buying? The short answer: both. Read on for the longer answer, and to find out how to make it work in your household and in your area.
:: Why buy local?
What is local? Well, there isn’t a legal definition, like there is for “organic” so local can mean a lot of things. But, generally you can think about it this way: your community, your region, your state. Obviously the most local is your community, but you might have to go a little further out to find the products that you need. There are countless reasons why buying local food is both rewarding and delicious, including enjoying the taste of fresh food, improved health and nutrition, environmental stewardship, support for family farms and rural communities, and ensuring animal welfare. There is also significant peace of mind in knowing where our food comes from. Purchasing locally often gives you the opportunity to talk to the grower, so you can ask important questions to learn more about the food you are consuming.
Another significant reason to buy local is to keep food miles to a minimum. “Food miles” refer to the distance a food item travels from the farm to your home. Not only does this save fuel and cut down on pollution, it also means you’ll be purchasing a fresher product. And, because it doesn’t have as far to travel, the produce is picked when it is ripe, so you’ll be purchasing a product that is richer in nutrients.
Buying local is a sustainable practice… but local produce isn’t always produced sustainably
Huh? Confused? Well, sustainable agriculture involves food production methods that are healthy, do not harm the environment, respect workers, are humane to animals, provide fair wages to farmers, and support farming communities. Sustainability includes buying food as locally as possible. Buying local food does not guarantee that it is sustainably produced. Pesticides, chemical fertilizers, factory farming, hormone use, and non-therapeutic use of antibiotics can all be involved in local food production, so it’s important to make sure that the local food you buy is from farmers or gardeners using sustainable methods. That is why buying local is important… because you CAN find out if the farmer is using sustainable practices – just ask! It’s important to be able to “shake the hand that feeds you.”
:: Why buy organic?
Organic is a legal term that means the item is not genetically modified and has been produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Pesticides are toxic by design and many pose health dangers to people. Obviously, avoiding ingestion of pesticides and other chemicals is always a good idea, but there are certain types of produce that receive a heavier dose of pesticides and/or several different types of pesticides and these are the items on the Environmental Working Groups “Dirty Dozen List.” You can lower your pesticide consumption by nearly four-fifths by avoiding the “Dirty Dozen” and instead eating the least contaminated produce, or the “Clean Fifteen” according to EWG calculations. Another option, of course is to purchase at least the items on the “Dirty Dozen” list organically.
What is the “Dirty Dozen?”
(In order from dirtiest): Celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, and grapes.
:: So when do I buy local and when do I buy organic?
Here’s what I suggest: For the items on the “Dirty Dozen” list, specifically, I look for items that are both organic AND local. If I can’t have both, I purchase those items organically – at the very least. One way to ensure you are receiving a quality product is to purchase locally – so obviously in the south you aren’t going to find local blueberries in December. So, the only way you’ll be finding both local AND organic is if you learn to eat seasonally – which has great benefits as well! The items on the “Dirty Dozen” list that we purchase often are potatoes, grapes, spinach, and apples. The other items on the “Dirty Dozen” list I either never buy or I only buy when they are in season.
For items that are not on the “Dirty Dozen” list, organic isn’t as important, so if given a choice – local OR organic, I choose local. This isn’t just for items on the “Clean Fifteen” list – this is for everything else that isn’t on the “dirty dozen” list.
:: Where can I find the produce that I need?
The best places to find local produce is your own backyard! Grow your own! But obviously, everyone can’t do that, and most of us are purchasing the produce that we need… not growing it all ourselves. So, a great start is a local farmer’s market, or get involved with a local CSA (community supported agriculture).
Here in Georgia I hit the local farmer’s markets and road side stands and am able to talk to the growers and find a lot of what I need. I find the other organic produce I need at my local whole foods store, Earth Fare. And, for other produce that I need (items that aren’t on the dirty dozen list or are on the clean fifteen list) I can get those just about anywhere at any local grocery store, conventionally grown. But that is a lot of stops, you say. Well, yes and no. I don’t go to all of these places all of the time! If I happen to drive by a farm stand, I stop and see what the offerings are that day. And, I shop at Earth Fare every other week. On the in between weeks I visit my local Walmart or other grocery store to purchase the items I need. So, I’m only visiting a grocery store once a week at most and I am able to feed my family lots of fresh and healthy produce.
I’m always on the lookout for where I can purchase the the fresh items I need at the lowest prices and I’m happy to report that because many of us are trying to educate ourselves on what is best for our bodies and we’re putting our money where our mouth’s are – we are beginning to see a trend with big business.
Big businesses are seeing availability of sustainable, local, and organic produce as something that is becoming more and more important to the general public. That means we’re going to see more of these items available where we haven’t seen them before. Take Walmart for example, they recently held their Global Sustainable Milestone Meeting, where they announced their goals and new initiatives to support sustainable agriculture around the world. The world’s largest retailer is finally joining the local and sustainable movement! Walmart announced that they intend to put more locally grown produce into their stores and that they intend to invest in training and infrastructure for small and medium-size farmers. (You can read more about their initiatives here). There is a really great (short) YouTube video about some of the changes Walmart is trying to make to their produce department here.
I’m very excited about these new initiatives, and although Walmart has a long way to go (especially in my area) it sounds very promising that Walmart is moving towards making smarter and more sustainable choices. They are taking on a huge responsibility to provide America with more local and sustainable foods at an affordable price – as always. And, although I’m going to go where I can purchase the things I need – organic and local – regardless of the price, I’m excited about the possibility of finding more of what I need under one roof where the prices are always low.
For more information on local or organic I recommend these two sites:
- Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Pesticides
- Sustainable Table
I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation to blog about sustainability and the Global Sustainable Milestone Meeting at Walmart and what Walmart is working towards at the local level. Participation in this program is voluntary. All opinions are my own.
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