Why Not Lime?

The Food Dilemma: Local vs. Organic

While reading the New York Times online, I found a very good article that I thought you would find interesting. It makes a few suggestions for easy organic food switches and points out that these particular foods - including milk as its number one switch - tend to have a higher percentage of chemicals in the end product, versus organic foods.

This article focuses on the health benefits offered by organic foods, which are very important, especially when you have a family to consider.

There are other factors to consider when purchasing organic, though. I mean, it’s expensive, right? If I wash off my conventional “pesticide-ridden” apple that costs about $1 less per pound, won’t it be good enough for me?

Commenter #19 to the NYT blog post addressed one of my concerns when shopping organic: is it better to buy food grown locally, or the food that is labeled organic? Is it more important to be concerned about the chemicals on my local food or the “safer” organic food from Washington State?

Of course, either choice is more socially conscious than buying non-organic apples from Chile, and purchasing locally grown organic food is the most ideal option.

Then there’s commenter #9 who grows his own garden, has four hens, and buys half of a grass-fed cow every year. His choices are impressive and seem to be one of the best ways to ensure that you know the origins of your food and reduce the amount of oil required to transfer the food from the farm to a grocery store to your home.

I believe that I’ve unknowingly touched on a very complex sustainable lifestyle quandry. With so many factors to consider, it’s easy to want to throw in the towel on the issue. Those factors include but aren’t limited to: the end product cost, food transportation, cancer-causing pesticides, your local economy, nutrition, quality of taste, and of course, ease of consumer purchase.

After reading several articles, including this extensive one from TIME, it appears that purchasing choices should be made on a case-by-case basis, which is the same dilemma that your grocery store faces. How does that dairy farm care for their cows? Does this local farm use dangerous pesticides? The same place that you purchase your tomatoes may not be the same place that you purchase your fresh fish, and the reasons for those decisions are entirely up to your educated opinion.

While at first these types of choices may seem cumbersome, doing your research and purchasing with the intent of supporting a certain farming practice is another way of placing your vote. It’s empowering.

For example: “Yes, I believe in my local farmer,” or, “No, that local farmer doesn’t use sustainable farming practices, so I’m choosing this other comparny from Florida.”

I’m going to point you in the direction of a Nebraska family who I know that raises cattle in a very safe and effective way. Maybe you’ll be tempted to buy your own half-cow from Pape Steaks once you learn a little more about their ranch.

I’d like to hear opinions from everyone regarding their organic and local purchasing choices. Please let me know your tips, questions, and opinions! Thanks.

Posted under: Local Support, Organic Shopping