Why local food is important
The Big Picture
Our current global food supply system depends upon retail giants flying fresh foods around the world throughout the year. Any interruption to global transport systems can seriously disrupt our food supplies, and the “just in time” distribution systems practiced by the big supermarkets mean that a breakdown in the system would result in serious food shortages in just nine meals – three days!
Buying food produced in far-away places from supermarkets also takes our money out of our local communities – the money we spend boosts the profits of large companies buying as cheaply as they can on the global market.
In contrast, buying locally grown and reared produce in local, independent shops supports both the producer and the shopkeeper, who then have the money in their pockets to spend again locally – instead of our money going out of the local economy, it remains with local people, to be spent again, so that the benefit of the spend is passed on to other local businesses as well – this is called the “local multiplier effect”. Buying local and regional food is also a great way to reduce food miles, thus reducing the carbon footprint of your shopping basket and helping in the fight against climate change.
By rebuilding a more locally based food economy – one in which food travels as little as necessary from point of production to point of consumption – we are making our local economies and communities more self-reliant and resilient to the potential adverse impacts of spiraling global oil and food prices.
Think Local, Act Local, Buy Local, Grow Local
Buying food from local farmers and producers, and from shops stocking local produce, helps to keep them in business – this in turn helps to create local jobs for people in the community.
Buying local, seasonal fresh produce will help you to get the freshest possible produce, traceable back to the point of production. Eating fruit and vegetables in their natural season means that they taste better, and the shorter the time from field to fork, the more vitamins and minerals there are in your fruit and vegetables.
Growing your own food is even better – food will never be fresher than from garden to kitchen, and its easier than you think – just a small patch to grow in and a bit of time each week can add fresh vegetables and herbs to your meals and provide a better understanding of where your food comes from.
Support your local farmers markets and food festivals – It’s a different way of shopping for home reared, grown or processed foods that is sold directly to you, the customer, giving a real alternative to mass produced, uniform products. The markets and festivals are open to all members of the general public to buy genuine farm-fresh produce and to support farmers and local producers. There are no marketing gimmicks involved – the products speak for themselves.
What’s In Season?
For a helpful chart of what’s in season, please click here.
