Are you a Locavore?

Wiki says:
A locavore is someone who eats food grown or produced locally or within a certain radius such as 50, 100, or 150 miles. The locavore movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to produce their own food, with the argument that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locally grown food is often a more environmentally friendly means of obtaining food, since supermarkets that import their food use more fossil fuels and non-renewable resources.

Produce isn't the only item in the local market scenario. If the item isn't locally grown - what about buying locally produced? Many regions have locally produced jams, jellies and breads as well as locally created confections. While these businesses may not always use strictly local ingredients in their products, by purchasing them you are supporting the local economy.

As attractive as supporting local economy sounds, there is more to consider when pressured to endorse simplistic formulas such as a 100-mile diet or an in-state/province diet. Getting to know your local farmers co-op will help you decide where your dollars are best spent according to your conscience. For example: A farm that is owned by an extra-local corporation, may employ migrant workers who live outside the community thereby does not benefit its community economically or culturally as much as it should. The very produce that is grown may be the same greens grown in greenhouses across the country and sold in every farmers market is more likely from a seed company than it is a local or regional food. It may be produced within 100 km from your home, but its seeds are bought from afar every year.

Investing in both native and naturalized foods reinforce cultural links with the region, thus sustaining place-based foods that are threatened by globalization. Supporting them and their traditional stewards helps to strengthen our futures.