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Local versus Organic: the New Food Debate

Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Bob Ewing in Lifestyle | 17 comments | 468 views
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The food debate expands, going beyond organic
The great food debate used to be organic versus non-organic This debate has shifted to organic versus local.

How we grow and transport food from the farm to the kitchen defines our society. Fast Food is becoming our most popular food delivery system and it is one of the most environmentally unfriendly. It is not sustainable to use so much energy to produce the paper, plastic, styrofoam and cardboard that we all too often find on our highways, sidewalks and city streets. How many miles does that ‘special’ meal travel before you eat it? How many gallons of fossil fuel are used in its production, storage and distribution?


A certified organic label means that no synthetic products have been used in the food production processes, this includes livestock feed. Organic food may still travel hundreds and thousands of miles from where it is produced to where it is consumed. This transportation requires fossil fuel use just as non-organic food does. The organic labels do not guarantee that there is equity in the work place or that fair labour practices exist.


Food, organic and non-organic, travels hundreds and thousands of miles to reach your plate. While it is not always possible I prefer to buy local first, we do not have a farmers market here so it does take more effort to find a source. To be honest Sobey's a grocery chain is where I but most of my food. they do carry an Atlantic provinces line.
Source: time.com external
article:148960:11::0
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  • loulou Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  loulou
    		#1
    Here in Canada, the growing season is so short,but when it
    arrives, I make an effort to buy from our local farmers. We drive to their farms. The food is so much tastier.

    There are some farms where you can even pick your own vegies and it's a lot of fun.

    loulou
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#2
    I am also in Canada and agree the growing season is indeed short. Going direct to the grower is a great way of getting fresh food and supporting your local community.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Carolyn E. Price (gohomelaker)
    		#3
    You can still get organic fruits & veggies in the winter in Ontario. There are plenty of greenhouses in the Toronto area who are growing organic veggies year round. Fruits are more difficult.

    I find this an interesting dilemma. On the one hand, I want to buy organics, but on the other, am I adding to an already overburdened atmosphere by supporting the long distance movement of foods that add to the greenhouse effect?

    What to do? Especially in light of the costs of organic foods. Some places are much more affordable, but when the big stores buy in bulk, where are the products coming from?
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Chris V. (cgull)
    		#4
    They use different labels yet cause the same problems. I buy most of the vegetables and fruits from the local farmers market, they are fresh, also good price.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#5
    Greenhouses are what I'd like to see here in New Brunswick, not the backyard variety, which are fine, but big enough for commercial growing.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  icecream2269
    		#6
    I've heard many things about how "organic" is really not. Most companies just call their products organic. That is why it's very important to make sure that you're products are in fact, certified.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#7
    The question of what to do is when you can buy from a local producers, farmers market are great. If there is one near you visit it. When you visit the supermarket look for where the food comes from and if it is not marked asked. You can also indicate your preference for local produce.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 25, 2007 by  geozone
    		#8
    Some supermarkets today also have an organic produce section. Organic is great and you do taste the difference. But sometimes you cannot always trust that which is labelled organic when it is actually not. Gone are the days when we grew our own food and knew what went into producing it.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 26, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#9
    @ geozone:
    Some supermarkets today also have an organic produce section. Organic is great and you do taste the difference. But sometimes you cannot always trust that which is labelled organic when it is actually not. Gone are the days when we grew our own food and knew what went into producing it.

    Both the local Sobey's and Superstore have an organic section. the Superstore's is much larger and has more variety. None of it comes from a local source.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 26, 2007 by  rob13
    		#10
    I guess that I am lucky because I live in Florida, and there are plenty of fruit and vegetable stands around that are from local growers.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 26, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#11
    @ rob13:
    I guess that I am lucky because I live in Florida, and there are plenty of fruit and vegetable stands around that are from local growers.

    I am envious.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 26, 2007 by  Posthappy
    		#12
    Even locally grown may not be organic. If you buy from the farmers, ask them how organic they are... you may be surprised to find out that they are not totally organic. But it is the better way. You can even get your meat from free range, organic, or pesticide/hormone free farmers.
    St Jacobs near Guelph, Mennonite country, is a good area for purchase from the farmer's markets in Southern Ontario. They tend to be organic. It's a great daytime outing as well.
    Good article.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 26, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#13
    Locally grown does not mean organic, but the advantage to buying from within your region is the possibility of being able to talk directly with the farmer. That is why farmers markets are so popular. You get to ask questions and talk with the people who are growing your food. For me, it does not have to be certified organic as long as the farmer does not use artificial pesticides and fertilizers.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Mar 27, 2007 by  CTZenObserver
    		#14
    What makes local farmers to survive is the daily local open markets as the producers directly supply the market. If you ever live in Paris (or any European city for that matter) you can see that there are several of these markets starting early in the morning and providing the consumers with fresh local products.
    In North America however there are two factors that prevents that from happening, (1) the urban planning (especially in the US) has scattered residential areas across remote suburban pockets, and (2) weather that is extremely cold or extremely hot is different location.
    Adding to that is the overly industrialized farming that causes the smaller farms to loose their comparativeness.
    Sadly even in the local markets in places as far as Toronto in Canada you see California labels on everything...
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 11, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#15
    There is talk about a farmer's market in our region. We are near the Quebec border and there are some possibilities for an exciting market.
    quote
  • loulou Posted Apr 11, 2007 by  loulou
    		#16
    I love farmer's market. We have one here or we go to the farm and pick our own veggies. Yellow beans are the best when they are picked up fresh.
    quote
  • avatar Posted Apr 11, 2007 by  Bob Ewing
    		#17
    Fresh from the vine or stalk it cannot be any tastier.
    quote

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