Danielle Costanzo
Ms. J. Pezzolo
English 151, Section D026(12648)
March 2, 2017
Kathrine Spriggs establishes the importance of global environmentalism in her passage “Buying Local” in “Everyone’s an Author” with contributors Andrea Lunsford, Michael Brody, Lisa Ede, Beverly J. Moss, Carole Clark Papper, and Keith Walters. Spriggs makes it clear that her position is for buying locally grown products from small sustainable farms. She claims that is is an advantage to the environment in terms of contributing to social and economic factors as well. However, “buying local” in my opinion is more of a “local trap”. Perhaps there are certain limitations to “buying local” such as pesticides, chemically grown or DNA altered produce, and unsustainable
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Buying locally would encourage the profit of small farms by lowering their competition against industrialized mass farming companies worldwide, literally. Buying local benefits the environment by reducing the amount of fossil fuel and greenhouse gas emissions used to transport produce. Most produce shipped into the United States can be shipped roughly 1,500 miles. This varies for all products due to the conduciveness of the climate for a specific type of produce. Eighty percent of strawberries for example would most likely be shipped from California, Pineapples from the Caribbean, etc. (“Why Buy Local”). This is an estimate that can be visualized from shipping from Nebraska to New York. This supports Spriggs’ belief that industrialized agriculture is potentially harming the environment. She emphasizes that small farms are sustainable and eco-friendly by “reducing the high cost of fuel and energy used to transport food across the world, bringing long term benefits.” She adds that stopping the transportation of produce would help preserve glaciers in the Glacier National Park (Global Warming Statistics”). Spriggs makes it clear that industrialized farming is a major contribution to environmental downfall. “Shipping food thousands of miles is expensive- in dollars, in oil, and in the carbon dioxide it produces” (Spriggs, …show more content…
Organic food is produce untreated with pesticides, fertilizers or bioengineering. The truth is that all produce that consumers purchase from their local supermarkets has been treated or chemically altered in some way, shape or form. Edwin Marty, founder of Jones Valley Urban Farm Alabama, states that even local farms, including his own, are prompted by local and state agencies to use conventional agricultural solutions which require soil fertilizers, etc, making the produce not organic like most consumers may think. (http://www.pbs.org/food/features/lexicon-of-sustainability-local-vs-organic/) Organic food can be purchased at local farms however a consumer must be willing to have a face certification with the owner of their local farm. This means establishing a connection with the farmer, learning their growing and agricultural practices to form a trust over the organic quality of their
James E. Mcwilliams stated his aversion to the locavore movement in his essay “The Locavore Myth: Why Buying from Nearby Farmers Won’t Save the Planet”. The locavore movement is the concept of buying produce, meat, and other farm-grown food locally as opposed to having your vegetables or fruits shipped from across the world. This notion believes going local reduces harm to the environment by decreasing the miles food needs to travel before landing on your plate. From the title of his essay itself, the claim would seem obvious. The locavore movement does not essentially help save the environment through lessened food mileage. Don’t be easily swayed, in short. Mcwilliams presented several grounds and data for his justification on this issue.
...e items come from places like CAFO’s. Joel wants to redirect the way farming should be. He believes that his process of “mob-grazing” will help restore the land prosper and continue to be farmed for many years. In the past 15 years small farms have been demolished by the bigger corporations. Smaller farms have a more difficult time accruing certifications and paying expensive fees to sell their products on a bigger scale. The USDA requires many restrictions and guidelines to what, where and how such products needs to be prepared which is time consuming, costly and requires many resources. In this area of Swoope, Virginia there are many small farmers that sell at the local Staunton Farmers Market located in downtown Staunton. Polyface also has a “Metropolitan Buying Club” which allows the products produced by the farm can travel farther for a monthly subscription.
Local rather than global and small rather than large, the increase in these less conventional manners of production can be seen in the increased abundance of farmers’ markets, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), and community gardens. Farmers’ markets are common areas where farmers meet on a regular basis and sell various fresh produce directly to the consumers. The number of farmer’s markets between 1994 and 2014 has increased from around 2,000 to 8,000 (ers.usda.gov). Farmer’s offers an aesthetic that Walmart cannot provide—the opportunity to be personable. The consumer is able to see who grew the food, ask how it was grown, and will not be dazzled by fancy packaging or advertisements.
Cover crops also capture carbon emissions and help control global warming. According to some estimates, farmers who practice conservation tillage could sequester 12-14% of the carbon emitted by vehicles and industry.” By not using the pesticides and chemical fertilizers the farmers are reducing pollution. The left over pesticides and fertilizer will go into the ground and the rivers and will pollute them. Now the water may be unhealthy for us. If the farmers keep doing this then the soil will become toxic and they won’t be able to plant crops in that soil anymore. Overall, if we eat local we will be helping the
...led an average of 1,518 miles (about 2,400 kilometers). By contrast, locally sourced food traveled an average of just 44.6 miles (72 kilometers) to Iowa markets. (DeWeerdt)” This is not only bad for the environment with all the food being transported all around the world causing pollution, it also does not support the local growing gardeners. When people buy locally grown produce it helps the community out because of the taxes made from the produce they buy.
Organic refers to the way agricultural products, food and fiber, are grown and processed. “It is an ecological system that at its core relies on a healthy rich soil to produce strong plants that resist pests and diseases. Organic farming prohibits the use of toxic and persistent chemicals in favor of more “earth-friendly” practices that work in harmony with nature. In the case of livestock, antibiotics are prohibited, opting instead for preventative measures for keeping animals healthy and productive. Organic production also prohibits the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s).” (Ameriorganic) To find organic products one must only look for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal. The seal certifies the product must be 95%
What do you think when you hear the words grocery store? Do you visualize perfect fruit and vegetable fillings the aisles? This is concept that many consumers have come to know. What many consumers do not realize is this is not ideal. These were my same thoughts before I started volunteering at a Farmers Market. These markets offer an array of benefits. As a consumer at a Farmers Market you are not only supporting local growers, but also reducing your environmental foot print, and diminishing the idea of perfect produce.
Steven Shapin is an expert when it comes to telling people the reality of the situation. In his, article “What Are You Buying When You Buy Organic?” Shapin exposes and explains the truth behind the word organic. He explains that our view on organic is not a reality. The small farms that we picture in our heads are really just big business in disguise and these big businesses are trying to do good by supposedly not using harmful pesticides. Which are supposed to not damage the environment but in reality they are probably not making any sort of difference. Some people care about the environment, while others are buying taste when it comes to organic food but using different pesticides are going to help the taste, only freshness tastes the best.
According to “Dedicated Dieting Decisions”, the grocery stores are making it much easier for vegans to have access to purchasing organic foods to use in their diets. Although, according to the “Green & Gorgeous” blog organic foods are highly difficult to find. (Author’s name) states, whenever she goes shopping she has to cross her fingers that at least some of the produce will be local, and cross her fingers and toes that some of it will be from local farmers. (Cite) This shortage occurs because if all popular grocery stores decide to sell only certified organic produce, a large amount of people would be short on produce. (Limit amounts, only in certain grocery stores, doesn’t take into account the high prices placed on these foods)
The idea of the family farm has been destroyed by large food corporations. As discussed in class, industrial farming typically leads to the mass produ...
...t tastes. According to Maiser, she states, “Locally grown produce is fresher…Local food just plain tastes better… Locally grown fruits and vegetables have longer to ripen.”(Source A). The writer is saying that the food quality of locally harvested food from local farmers’ markets is more convenient in various ways. Smith agrees, “Fruits and vegetables that travel shorter distances are therefore likely to be closer to a maximum of nutrition… It’s not just vitamins and minerals, but all these phytochemicals … a food never really reaches its peak ripeness…” (Source B). The food bought from stores like, Wal-Mart and/or Food 4 Less never reach their full peak of ripeness due to the chemicals used on the produce so it can be preserved. Locally grown produce will be full of vitamins and free of phytochemicals, so it will have a better taste that benefits a humans’ health.
Trends of moving toward supporting local food producers have increased over the years. People are looking for quality over quantity. “With the explosion of interest in local food, consumers now have more choices of products, labels, and ways to shop, so, many people are left wondering where to start” (Table, 2009). Buying locally supports sustainable food system, beyond just methods of food production and helps to increase food from farm to plate. Supporting locally drastically helps with the reduction of emissions and the negative effect that food traveling has on our environment.
Sup Point B: Organic food is different from conventional food in several ways. Organic food uses natural resources like manure and compost in to enrich the soil where food is being grown. Any form of chemicals such as pesticides are not permitted to be used in any form. Organic farmers use crop rotation to preserve the soil. Organic farmersdo not ...
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Jan. 2014. http://www.localharvest.org/buylocal.jsp. "Why buy local?. " Sustainable table.
Organic food is food that is grown without any pesticide or fertilizers. In recent years, sales for organic foods are increasing every year. A lot of people go to supermarkets in order to buy some organic foods, because they think that organic foods are healthier than conventional foods. People purchase organic foods for different reasons such as personal health, the quality of organic foods, and taste, but the most important reason is personal health. The topic that whether organic foods have more benefits or not is very controversial for a long time. Maybe some people believe that organic foods are beneficial to human health, but some other people disagree with the viewpoint, so buying organic foods depend on people’s choices. People believe organic foods are healthier because they generally think organic foods have less pesticide and fertilizer residue, more nutritional values, and are beneficial to environment.