Jan 21, 2009: Buy Locally Produced Food

Which sounds like the healthier choice: tomatoes grown in Chile, or tomatoes grown in Alabama? I have nothing against Chile, but I’ll pick an Alabama tomato every day.

Shopping locally has more benefits than you might imagine. We can all think of the obvious ones – everything in Alabama is better, naturally! And there is evidence that eating food grown in soil you live on, watered with water you drink, and producing oxygen you breathe, contributes to overall health. The longest lived peoples on the planet, those in so-called Blue Zones, all grow their own food.

With our growing awareness of the impact humans have on the environment, we also need to take into account the fuel needed to transport our food. Moving a tomato 5000 miles is not cheap, or environmentally friendly. We in Alabama have the advantage of a long growing season, so the chances are good you’ll find what you want locally.

Eating locally supports area farmers, an important part of our economic structure. Local crops are brought to the market more quickly, often the same day they are picked.

So, in practical terms, how do you start eating locally? The website http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.html has some great advice. One idea is to choose five foods you can buy locally. A good first step is to get to know the manager of your favorite grocery store, and ask, what is in the store today that’s locally produced?

Here in Tallassee, Piggly Wiggly prides itself on stocking many locally produced items, labeled “Alabama’s Best” on the shelves, like Alaga Syrup from Montgomery. Super Foods stocks local produce in season, as well as many other local products like Wickles pickles from Dadeville. Miss Noel’s Heavenly Sweets serves salads featuring local produce. All winter, you can buy wonderful fresh pecans straight from the shellers.

Think about adapting recipes to work with whatever is in season. With no more pumpkins, I recently made locally-grown sweet potato/pecan muffins. Yum!
Www.eatingalabama.org is an informative blog with recipes and resources, including a farm locator button. This spring, I’ll write about growing your own garden, buying a share in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), and exploring local farmers markets. In the meantime, keep thinking about ways to eat healthy and support our local food producers.