I think we got spoiled by eating cheap food from all over the world. That put us out of sync with nature and skewed the price of local produce and products vs. produce and products from distant places, leading us to waste what we once had held precious because it was seasonal and local and therefore rare. Slow Food USA and Josh Viertel were right in fighting for fair wages for our own farmers and trying to lead us back to a way of eating that is in line with nature, which of course means paying a little more, but improving our health and local economy.
There are many more arguments to be put forth. Let’s talk about it: the pros and cons, your experiences, your convictions, etc. We’d love to get a big discussion going here.
Click here to watch Building a Slow Food Nation, outlining the history of Slow Food in the U.S., and including Josh Viertel’s view.
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January 12, 2013
If you are a locavore who eats foods in season only, and you live in New England, you are in for some monotony December through March. This is why I want to devote serious time this next growth season — mid-June through mid-November for us — to jarring tomatoes, making relishes and otherwise storing up the summer. Doing this right takes planning and commitment and a little creativity. I mainly shop from my farmer now — I want to eliminate that grocery store mentality where, somewhere, it’s ALWAYS berry season, and you can have them if you’ll pay for them.
January 13, 2013
I do the same. I can hardly walk into a supermarket. My conundrum is that I live in a city, so I have no place to grow food and no place to store anything I might put up for the winter. City people have serious restrictions, unfortunately. The fortunate thing is there are so many farmers who make condiments, sauces, canned goods, etc. that they sell in the farmers market and we can stock up from them.
January 17, 2013
If you live in a city, few foods will be truly local. Some say local means a 400 mile radius, but that seems like an easy out to me. As you say, Elatia, in Maine it means a certain monotony, in Canada where I grew up, even more so, and would mean a permanent lack of citrus foods. I get somewhat irritated when I hear locavore coming from Californians who are spoiled for choice, and those who will drink their coffee and tea nonetheless.
Avoiding supermarkets, and supporting local farmers and local businesses in general is another matter, highly commendable, and means building a community.
Then there’s the question of what _not_ buying local would do or does to to the economy and workers in countries dependent on coffee, banana, etc production who are the worst off to start with.
February 16, 2013
Poignant remarks, Zev. We could start a discussion board or Twitter chat on the subject. Perhaps the three of us should do just that.
April 27, 2013
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April 27, 2013
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