THE ORIGIN of our food should concern us. Think about a simple apple: It probably came from California, travelled all the way to a seaport and thousands of miles by sea. It was hot, then cold, moved from box to box, truck to cart, met some bugs, inhaled some gasoline fumes and passed through several different pairs of hands. It then sat for about weeks on the wharf and supermarket shelves until it made its way to your mouth!
Global warming is the biggest environmental issue of our time and the threat of the world’s entire oil resources being consumed perhaps within our lifetime, or that of our children looms. As such, it is therefore important to note that the average food travels 1,500 miles (a low estimate) before it reaches your plate.
Global warming and its link to climate change is perhaps one of the issues that is causing an explosion of interest in local food. In today’s world, consumers have more choices of products, labels, and ways to shop than ever before. In fact, the ever increasing number of choices has many people wondering where to start. Food choices can be overwhelming and changing where and how we shop can be stressful. On the other hand, the benefits of buying local can be great.

‘Eat Local! Buy Local! Be Local!
Talk of local food is everywhere. But what does it mean? How local is local? Practically speaking, local food production can start with growing food at home, in our immediate community, region and country.
People who value local as their primary food criterion are sometimes referred to as locavores. The term ‘locavore’ was coined by Jessica Prentice from the San Francisco Bay Area for World Environment Day 2005 to describe and promote the practice of eating a diet consisting of food harvested from within an area most commonly bound by a 100 mile radius. The New Oxford American Dictionary chose locavore as its word of the year in 2007.
One easy way to start buying local is to choose and focus on one product. Vegetables are often a good place to start. Next, try seeking out sources for local meat or dairy. With a fridge full of beautiful, local foods, you may want to start experimenting in the kitchen.
While local is certainly a flexible term, the basic concept is simple: local foods are produced as close to home as possible. Buying local supports a more sustainable food system because true sustainability goes beyond the methods used in food production to include every step that brings food from farm to plate.
Local vs. sustainable
Food is produced sustainably if it is grown using methods that safeguard the environment. This also includes ethical aspects such as respect for workers, humane treatment to animals and fair wages to farmers, and support to farming communities.
Buying food locally is part of sustainability but does not guarantee that it was produced in an environmentally friendly way. Pesticides, chemical fertilizers, factory farming, hormone use, and non-therapeutic use of antibiotics can all be involved in local food production, so it’s important to make sure that the local food you buy is from farmers or gardeners using sustainable methods.
Why is buying local important?
Local foods systems provide several advantages over conventional and global markets. Buying locally strengthens regional economies, supports family farms, provides delicious, “fresh-from-the-field” foods for consumers, preserves the local landscape, and can help foster a sense of community.
Buying local food strengthens your regional economy
•    Purchasing food that was grown and harvested locally keeps your money circulating within your community, keeping wealth in your region.
•    Buying local food supports farmers in your community, some of whom have farmed the land for generations.
•    Supporting local farms can help to create jobs for your region.
•    A strong local economy insulates your region from national or global recession.
Buying local food provides high-quality, fresh foods
•    Locally-produced food is often fresher than conventional products grown far away and shipped in trucks for several days.
•    You can give local farmers feedback on the quality and freshness of their produce.
Buying local food fosters community growth
•    Family farms are part of the tradition of self-sufficiency and serve as the basis of local communities.
•    Local markets provide places for community members to meet, socialize, and discuss issues.
•    Local markets and farms bring together individuals who share concerns about the future, promoting organization and cooperation toward common goals.
•    By helping farms financially, you sustain your family and community with delicious, healthy local foods.
Buying local lets you connect with your food producer concerning the safety and nutrition of your foods
•    Locally-grown foods can be high in nutrients, often reaching you within 24 hours of harvest, whereas produce shipped from out of region/country may be up to a week old and has often suffered from severe nutrient loss.
•    When you buy locally, you can ask whether the farmers use safe farming practices, what they spray on their crops, and what they feed to their animals.

You can share ideas and questions by sending your letters to: ‘Our Earth, Our Environment’, C/o EIT Division, Environmental Protection Agency, Ganges Street, Sophia, GEORGETOWN, or email eit.epaguyana@gmail.com