Buy Local, by Neale Baldyga

There is a wave of thought that is slowly emerging into the American consciousness. We are saying that more is not always better and that we should think about the overall impact of our actions before we act. The environment is not a never-ending source of property and possessions and that we are limited in our scope. We are being pulled in a new direction as a people who begin to take environmental ethics into account when making everyday decisions. The green revolution is upon us and “living green” is now a household term thanks to the efforts of Al Gore, Barack Obama, and other environmental supporters. What does this mean for you?

The way we have been living in Chicago, and all over the country, can not be sustained by the natural resources on earth. What can you personally do to help reverse this trend? You can start by buying local. Send the message that it is important to know where your food is coming from and how it is been grown and raised. Make a reasonable effort to buy any food product grown, raised, or produced as close to your home as possible and you have just made a choice to start living greener.

Buy local, Fight against global warming

In the United States, the average grocery store’s produce travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm where it was grown and your refrigerator (www.goodgreenhome.com) which contributes to a huge and preventable release of fossil fuels into the earth’s atmosphere. Also, the refrigeration required to keep these various fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and meats from spoiling as they are shipped wastes energy that could be used more efficiently. When you buy locally you cut out the unnecessary travel as your food moves a minimal distance to get to your plate, cutting back on emissions and other pollutants.

Buy local, Care for the land

Small local farms need to preserve the land that they have so that it can be used for years to come. Most industrially produced foods are accompanied with unnecessary pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, and growth hormones. Biotechnology in agriculture has become a reality that has a future full of unknowns, including how this genetically modified food is going to affect its consumers and what impact this will have on the environment. As larger corporations are producing food solely for profit, many small farms have a genuine invested interest in the earth and how it is treated. They care about those eating their food and the people inheriting their land when they pass it down.

Buy local, It’s healthy

When purchasing locally, food is much fresher because preservatives aren’t necessary (as they are when shipped thousands of miles) and the food is packed with more nutrients and natural flavor. Various studies show that fresh produce loses nutrients quickly, so why not get it fresh? A local consumer may have more choice when it comes to variety and flavor because the local farmers can breed something for taste and quality. It may be a unique taste that has been perfected over generations by farmers and human selection in the seeds. In the modern agricultural system food is chosen based on its ability to travel long distances (a tough skin), ripen when necessary, and to have the longest shelf life necessary. This means that there is currently little variety in Chicago area grocery stores because the best-tasting and most nutritious fruits and vegetables aren’t grown on a large scale in a system that revolves around cost efficiency. Let the contents of what you are purchasing and ingesting no longer be a mystery. Educate yourself and decide to take back your health.

Buy local, It’s great for the community

Our chance for a sustainable agricultural system starts with the family farm. When you buy direct from a farmer, you’re engaging in a connection between eater and grower that has been around for centuries. In the past 70 years, this country has lost approximately 5 million farms. When purchasing goods from farmers around Chicago you are supporting the local economy because most of the money spent is re-invested into the community to buy feed, seed, and other materials, whereas large corporate farms tend to order in bulk from distant companies. By supporting your local farms you are keeping the farmers on the land while counteracting growing urban sprawl trends that are leading to more concrete and less biodiversity. By supporting local farmers today, you are helping to ensure that there will be farms in your community tomorrow.

There are many contributing factors into why our markets for food consumption are managed the way that they are. The large scale unsustainable system that is our reality stems from the importance that many place on profit and the general disregard for the natural resources we are given. These ingrained ideas won’t change overnight, but ultimately we have the power as consumers. We can influence the system with what we choose to spend our money on. The concept of sustainability is an age-old idea that is hardly practiced anymore. It is quite possible that we need to embrace our ancestor’s way of living with the earth as we cut back our “More is better”, attitude to survive. If we come together in the upcoming decades and realize that the food market is in need of a change we can make a difference. Here are a few things you can do in your community to start buying more local food.

Community Supported Agriculture

CSA programs offer a way of connecting local farmers to their communities. Citizens will generally purchase a share of a farm’s crops at the beginning of the season. This is an investment in the farmer that allows him/her to pay for start up costs on the farm (machinery, seed, fertilizer, etc.). Every week or two starting on a predetermined date (usually around June) the farmers deliver fresh tasting and healthy food to a pickup spot in the city. The boxes usually contain the best of what the growing season has to offer that week. Some CSA’s will include fresh eggs, milk, meat, or poultry along with fruit and vegetables. Each CSA program is structured a little differently to meets the needs of the farm and its community, but nearly all CSA farms are small enterprises, use organic growing methods, and are committed to fresh, high-quality products.

• As sort of a CSA-on-wheels Irv and Shelly’s Fresh Picks works with over 80 local farms and delivers fresh, nutritious food to your doorstep on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. For the health conscious and eco-friendly people on the go! www.freshpicks.com

Farmers Market

Farmers’ markets are one of the oldest forms of direct sales by small farmers. It is an event that is held to bring together many of the communities farmers and allow them to sell directly to the public. In the last decade they have become a favorite marketing method for many farmers throughout the United States, and a weekly ritual for many shoppers. They are a great place to acquire healthy and/or fresh produce and other things.

Other Options

1. There are a few food co-ops in the Chicago area. This is usually a grocery store or a pickup site that is organized by members for the benefit of those involved. Natural and healthy alternative food is made available at a more affordable price because everyone is working together. Many co-ops work with local farmers and other producers from the community. Here are a few in the Chicago area:
   1. www.chicagofoodcoop.org (Wicker Park)
   2. www.dillpicklefoodcoop.org (Logan Square)

1. Be aware! Look at the label of some of your favorite food to see how far it traveled. Make an effort to buy a few more things locally than you ever have before. Chicago is a production site for a lot of great foods. Ask people at your local grocery store where they get their fruits, vegetables, and other products. Tell them about the benefits of buying locally. Write a letter to a company or large food manufacturer. Let them know what is important to you. We want a system based more on sustainability and less on the exploitation of the environment and the people!

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