(Out to Lunch Continued from Page 9)
At the risk of sounding like a sanctimonious, radical tree-hugger, I want to point out that not only has my palate and pocketbook personally benefited from buying local, but so has the state of Iowa. And this is why: I know the food I buy is produced in Iowa in ways that conserve Iowa’s landscape. My choice to buy Iowa grown products creates opportunities for Iowa farmers. Since the beef I buy is processed locally, I am also helping sustain another link in the food web—Iowa’s meat processors. The decision to buy local organic also helps conserve Iowa’s environmental health since the CSA produce and beef are grown and raised organically (no chemicals) and the food travels a short distance from farm to fork. By buying local, I reduce the environmental impact of fossil fuel production and transportation to market, as well as carbon emissions. Local food system participation not only provides superior flavor incentives to eat more healthy—presumably reducing the cost of health care—but also improves the quality of life I have in Iowa because of the connections I make with farmers and others interested in connecting with Iowa’s land and food culture.
 |
All of us, including conventional and alternative farmers, want to create safe and healthy communities and environments in which to live and work. So what’s the problem? Why isn’t this happening on a larger scale? Perhaps it’s the failure to believe that a group of individuals, acting together, can make a difference or thinking that buying locally threatens my neighbor down the road who farms 1000 acres of commodity crops. Yet buying vegetables or beef from a farmer in my community or a neighboring county means I am personally demonstrating there is a public concern and demand for agriculture that strengthens our communities. By aggregating enough demand, anyone who eats can marshal local farming opportunities for skilled and responsible producers living on the margins who might make changes if they can be convinced such change is viable.
Even if your community has no CSAs and perhaps no farmers, you can do your part to harness citizens’ commitment to their community. Eat just one locally produced or processed meal a day. Or educate others about the impact they can have. Consider this exercise to generate an interesting and lively discussion (and possibly debate) at your next meal out with co-workers, family, or friends: Use the term “local food system” in casual lunch conversation to see how members of your community respond. Do your plate mates ignore you? Do they sneak knowing glances at each other behind your back? Or do they take the bait and ask you what you mean? If they ask you questions, get them hooked. Take the opportunity to talk about agricultural production practices, their impact on the environment, and how it affects your health, their health, and the health of your community. Talk about how a community of individuals, with relatively little effort, can create employment opportunities for themselves if they would commit to eating just one locally produced and/or processed meal a day. At the same time, make it personal; take a chance and share your most vivid and memorable food experiences. I’m certain you will recall those experiences precisely because they connected you to something—your family, your friends, your community, or the land.
That’s what community is all about—a sense of feeling connected. So go ahead and reconnect over lunch. That’s not so hard to swallow—is it?
References:
Melusky, Michael. March-April, 2006. “Niche Beef Products Comprise Small Share of Total Retail Beef Sales.” Issues Update. Accessed July 27, 2006 at http://www.beef.org/uDocs/nichebeefproducts.pdf.
USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Economic Research Service. May, 2006. “Choice Beef Values and Spreads and the All-Fresh Retail Value.” Accessed on the web July 26, 2006 at http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/foodpricespreads/meatpricespreads/beef.xls. |
