Is Locally Grown Food the Right Choice for You?

For years all the rage has been buying organic foods.  Consumers did and still do believe it is safer, fresher and an overall superior product – in other words, well worth the price.  However, when strolling through the produce section of your local grocer these days you will notice that there is a new catch phrase competing with organic foods.  That phrase is locally grown and it’s the new big thing.  This leaves shoppers wondering which is better.   Which one should they be bringing home to feed their families? 

Defining Locally Grown

Before the deciding which is the better choice, it must be determined what qualifies as locally grown.  Each grocery store takes it upon itself to define this term.  For some popular stores it means produce that comes from any farm within the state the store is located.  For other stores it can mean a tri-state area.  Some will define it based on a number of miles.  And others will base it on whether or not the distance can be traveled in one day. 

Unfortunately, recent research has shown that the consumer’s definition of locally grown and the store’s definition do not always match up.  A study done by the Horticulture Center found that most shoppers believe 100 miles is an acceptable distance to define locally grown food.  As you can see, this certainly does not always agree with what is being sold in the store as locally grown.

Doing your own research will help you determine if the food you are considering purchasing is locally grown according to your standards.  Some grocers will assure customers by using signs that highlight the town and which farm the produce has come from.  If this information is not posted, you should feel comfortable asking the produce manager at the store who their local vendors are and where they are located.

Why Is Locally Grown Better?

It is well known that organic foods have their advantage, however, locally grown food can offer advantages that even organic cannot.  The first of these is providing the freshest, best tasting food possible.  Because food is not traveling as far it can arrive at in your grocery store and be ready for purchase much sooner than other produce.  In addition to traveling a shorter distance, food often is delivered directly to the store from the farmer and does not need to go through a distribution center.  This can also significantly cut down on the time it takes for the food to get from the farm to your kitchen table.

Another reason that some buyers prefer locally grown produce is because it is less harmful to our environment.  This also is directly related to the food needing to be transported a shorter distance.  The shorter distance means that less gas is used and fewer pollutants are deposited in the air.  With the current global concern about climate change and the current national concern about U.S. dependence on oil, this means buying local provides a great advantage.

Supporting the local economy is another benefit of choosing to purchase locally grown food.  Selling locally grown food in supermarkets allows small, close by farmers to tap into a market that is much bigger than they ever have had access to in the past.  Taking their product from their roadside stand or a farmer’s market to a grocery store allows them to reach a consumer who prefers the convenience of one-stop shopping.  These consumers recognize this opportunity and feel good about supporting their local farmers.

Another benefit to locally grown food is that it keeps more dollars in the local area. Financial studies have shown that a dollar spent on local produce is re-circulated 7.1 times in the local economy while that same dollar spent  on nationally grown produce is only circulated 1.5 times in the local economy.

A Myth about Locally Grown Food

One reason many people cite for choosing locally grown produce over organic produce is that it is safer.  Knowing it comes from a farm in their own backyard gives shoppers a sense of security that their food is being grown and treated safely, assuring they will not receive unsafe food.  However, this line of thought is currently a false sense of security. 

Because farms that provide locally grown food are typically much smaller than farms that mass produce organic foods and other produce, they are not regulated by the same federal agencies and therefore, are not necessarily held to the same guidelines and procedures.  For example, for organic produce to be acceptable according to government guidelines, pesticides cannot have been used on the land currently or in the previous three years.  However, locally grown food might be grown on land that has been exposed to pesticides recently.

While some small farmers may take it upon themselves to follow these guidelines, many times there is no way for the government to ensure that for customers.  That is simply because they are not required to all government officials to carry out audits of their farms.

The Other Side of the Myth

While it should not be assumed that locally grown food is safer than organic food or other produce just because it was grown closer to your home, it shouldn’t necessarily be assumed it are unsafe either.  Most farmers are responsible individuals who realize that safe practices are common sense and they take every precaution to safeguard their goods. 

Additionally, trusting your local grocer is another way in gain confidence in the safety of locally grown food.  Many companies are setting their own standards for how local produce must be handled if farmers when to sell it in their stores.  This often includes store buyers or managers touring the farms that produce comes from before agreeing to a contract, as well as periodic check-ins to ensure that guidelines are continuing to be followed.  Some companies are going the extra mile and providing training programs for local farmers and their employees to ensure that they are producing the safest, highest quality products possible.

Deciding to Take Locally Grown Home

At the end of the day, deciding whether locally grown or organic is a better choice is a personal decision that you must decide for your family.  Locally grown produce should be considered carefully, as it does have a lot to offer.  Many families find that the positive impact that supporting local farmers brings makes the produce grown close by the right choice for them.