What is “local food”? While there is no direct definition for the term “local food”, it could be summed up as simply buying from local food/farmers markets and the CSA, Community Supported Agriculture. Consumers define local food by driving distance; farmers markets, for instance, are undoubtedly considered local food. Vendors are governed by highly enforced laws confining vendors to local farmers, and also growing produce themselves. Since 2006, farmer’s markets have had an annual growth rate of 10 percent; right now, there are 3,766 in the United States. (U.S. Department of Agriculture 2005, 2006). Fuel prices are a key factor in food price increase, since “produce consumption by consumers has been proven as price-sensitive...” (usda.gov). A hike in fuel prices could prove to lower produce purchasing in the short-term. There are a few factors between the correlation of increasing fuel-prices, and the distance traveled to point of origin: transportation method, perishability, and seasonality (usda.gov). Transportation by truck is the most expensive method of the three, as the length of distance needed to travel increases, so does the cost according to fuel cost. Studies show that the mean length food travels is 15,000 miles. Companies have taken full advantage of the price-to-distance relationship. With the lack of regulation by the authority to monitor the actual cost to deliver, companies have a free-run to charge what they please. Seasonal produce would be hit the hardest with price hikes because of fuel increases, while year-round produce would have more constant prices. Purchasing produce locally cuts the usage of petroleum. “One-fifth of all petroleum used in the United States is used in ...
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Pfeiffer, Dale Allen. “Eating Fossil Fuels.” Organic Consumers Association. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Pimentel, David. “Impacts of Organic Farming on the Efficiency of Energy Use in Agriculture.” The Organic Center. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
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Volpe, Richard, Edward Roeger, and Ephraim Leibtag. "How Transportation Costs Affect Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Prices." USDA ERS - Report Summary. USDA, Nov. 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2014. research-report/err160/report-summary.aspx#.UxfaFCjydS8> Zepeda, L. and Li, J. “Who Buys Local Food?” Journal of Food Distribution Research 37.3 (2006). Web. 05 Mar. 2014.
Though not the only country plagued with this issue, some of the United States’ most well-known cities, like Philadelphia, Chicago, and Baltimore, are home to food deserts, which are “characterized by the combination of very few food outlets and high poverty in a given geographic area” (Kato, 2014). Detailed in the Baltimore Sun article, “Baltimore to Give Tax Break to Attract More Grocery Stores”, are the efforts to be rid of food deserts in the western part of the city of Baltimore in Maryland. By implementing a lowered tax incentive for grocery stores, grocers are encouraged to put stores in food deserts, like the Save-A-Lot that was instated in West Baltimore. More grocery stores in such areas is an aid to the elderly and disabled in the community, who have difficulty traveling long distance to get healthy food, and for the community as a whole, which has a large concentration of individuals who are low-income and have trouble paying for high food prices at most grocery stores and a twenty-year life expectancy difference from its wealthy counterpart (Wenger, 2015). This article relates to chapter two of the Tice/Perkins text, specifically the feudalistic views of the poor, namely
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.
A counter argument to the conclusion that we should not trust nor buy from our food industries could be the obvious reason that food is cheaper than ever before. When times are hard in America, we can always count on the cheap price of our fast food restaurants and their dollar menus. However, these cheap prices come at a high cost. The reason meat or grains, for example, are so cheap, is due to subsidizing the market. While this may be great for consumers, it is actually incredibly harmful to local farmers. Artificially driving down the prices
Within these past few years, more and more people have tried to use their community’s grown produce instead of large company-based products. These ‘locavores’ have grown in numbers as people have taken into account the health related, environmental, and economic consequences of choosing locally grown products. The key issues associated with the locavore movement are the economic effects and the change made in the environment of a community.
We should eat local because it is healthier for us. For example, according to Onegreenplant.org it says that “When produce doesn’t travel across the country, or sometimes the world, its freshness means higher nutrient levels. Once produce is packaged its optimal nutritional level decreases, specifically some vitamins such as C, E, A and some B. There are other factors that come into play, such as exposure to artificial lights and air, and temperature changes.” Since the local foods don’t need to be preserved they keep their nutritional value and we get more nutrients from the local food than we would get from food that comes from California or Mexico. Another example is from sustainabletable.org when it says that “Meat from animals raised sustainably on
More and more farm-to-table restaurants, farmer’s markets, and food co-ops are cropping up to meet the demand among consumers for healthy, local foods, as more chefs and consumers recognize the poorer taste and nutritional integrity of ingredients shipped in from far away. Fruits and vegetables that have to be shipped long distances are often picked before they have a chance to fully ripen and absorb nutrients from their surroundings. Because local food doesn’t have to travel long distances, it is grown in order to taste better and be healthier rather than to be resilient to long travel. The farm-to-table movement also helps local economies by supporting small farmers, which is a dying
Economic forces have driven grocery stores out of many cities in the past few years, either only leaving only a few, and in some cases none. Many of these people leaving in these rural urban areas do not own cars and b...
Puthnam J.J. and Allshore J.E. (1999). Food consumption prices and expenditures, 1970-1997. Food and Rural EACONOMIC Division, Economic Research Service, USDA Statiscal Bulletin 965
Former editor of Us News and World Report and recipient of Guggenheim Award,Stephen Budiansky in his article, “Math Lessons For Locavores”,published in August 19,2012 addresses the topic of locally grown food and argues it as a more sustainable choice in terms of freshness and seasons.I agree with Budiansky for growing food locally,however; with three other reasons: we can reduce food waste,(which will benefit the environment), and obesity(which will help an individual mentally and physically), and improve our economy. The purpose is to illustrate why locally grown foods would be a finer option for an American lifestyle. Budiansky adopts an informative,persuasive,and insightful tone for his audience,readers
For economists and politicians, there are a few things that still are not considered, and the missing answers are only piling up; someone always has to win or lose out. Food policies are one of them. Bringing urban agriculture to cities is an incomparable move. When community food growing flourishes, the consumers seem to be healthier and smarter about what they eat, less p...
For years organic farmers and conventional farmers have feuded over which is superior. Organic farmers argue that their product is more eco-friendly because they do not use the synthetic chemicals and fertilizers conventional farmer’s use. Conventional farmers argue that their product is healthier and yields more. People tend to have stereotypes regarding the two types of farmers. Organic farmers are usually thought of as liberal, hippy, tree-huggers while conventional farmers are usually thought of as right-wing, industrialists. Obviously, some do adhere to this stereotype, but a majority of these farmers are normal, hardworking people. Although these farmers, both believe in their methods, one is no better than the other. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but there is no true superior method of crop farming.
On the extreme side of having a healthier lifestyle there is a locavore system. This system means that you confine your food to a 100 mile radius (Pelletier703). In “The Locavore’s Dilemma” by Christophe Pelletier, he disagrees with movement, he believes that the carbon footprint is more important rather than the distance. Pelletier also recognizes the struggle of busy tight budgeted families when deciding their food decisions. Therefore, the support of this movement is more of the wealthier population. People who are able to spend considerable amounts on only local. Pelletier believes that eating only locally produced is not necessary to live a healthy lifestyle. While it may not a hundred percent necessary, locally grown food are fresher and more nutritious to your body. I agree with Pelletier that limiting your food to 100 mile is unrealistic. On the other hand, eating locally is beneficially, while it may not be cost efficient, it is valuable to your health. Simply switching one or two food items to locally grown can make an impact. The differences between Bittman and Pelletier regarding this is that buying for real food versus buying food locally grown, which of course is the healthier option but not needed. Americans should not have to go extreme measures to have healthy lifestyle, locally or not. Simply cooking healthy meals at home rather than eating out will increase their
Have you ever considered what is in the food you are feeding your children? Most foods that are bought at the neighborhood grocery stores are considered global foods which are packed with additives and chemicals making them far less nutritious than local produce from the community farmer‘s market. After much research, I have concluded that it is better to buy produce which is grown locally rather than produce which is sourced globally (from other countries). I think this is important because most people, like myself, buy global foods and do not realize how much better local foods are for the local economy, the global environment, and our personal nutrition. Nutrition is vital to the healthy of everyone especially children, so with the purchase of local fresh produce, it can ease the worry in parents of what children as well as ourselves are ingesting.
and also supply lamb to local butchers. This can sometimes prove to be a costly enterprise for
Agriculture is the industry that I am choosing to reflect upon that is one of the top industries in the United States and therefore I felt it to be a good industry to focus on.