Concerns about the health of our environment and the health of the American people are becoming more and more a part of our daily lives. We are becoming increasingly aware of our desire for quality products that are sustainable, healthy, and delicious. We are starting to think about where our food is coming from, how it got to us, and what kind of nutritional value it has to offer. That’s why more and more people are choosing to buy local food.
Where we choose to buy our food has an immense impact on our carbon footprint, health, and general wellbeing. Shirley (2013) wrote that “[T]his growing consciousness could have an important effect on the environment and may help mitigate some of the negative environmental impacts of the modern United States food industry” (p. 511). So, what exactly are the benefits of buying local?
#1: It Decreases Our Food Miles
According to Singh (2019) at the University of Waterloo, buying local food decreases your food miles (p.1). “[T]he terms ‘food miles’ refers to the distance that food travels to reach your local supermarket” (Singh, 2019, p.1). How many miles do you think your meat traveled to get to the grocery store nearest to you? Unfortunately, it’s very likely that it traveled over a thousand miles (Singh, 2019, p.1.). Those miles were most likely spent in large trucks or aircraft that require a substantial amount of energy. Choosing to buy from your local farmer or rancher is a sure way to minimize your environmental impact. Not to mention you’ll be buying from a place that you can actually see with your own eyes.
#2: It Protects Our Local Lands
I grew up in Kittitas Valley in the heart of Washington State. It’s a farm country with rich pastureland and hardworking people that love what they do. When you buy local food, it protects rich pastureland like this and allows farmers to continue to stay in business. Buying local can ensure the safety of wildlife that reside on those broad lands, which may be in jeopardy if the land becomes overdeveloped. Thompson (2017) at Gogreen.org postulates that “[B]ecause the farms are owned and operated by local farmers and producers; they aren’t being sold to local developers” (p.1).
#3: It’s simply a better product
When we eat local food, we are caring for our health as well as the health of our environment. Singh (2019) explains that local food is much fresher and healthier. Singh (2019) wrote that “[M]any local farmers tend to keep their products organic, preservative-free, and pesticide-free” (p.1). This is not only beneficial for the person that consumes it, but also for the environment it was grown in.
Whitaker Grass-fed Beef believes in a simpler life. We respect mother nature and the delicate balance of our precious land, which is why we don’t use hormones, pesticides, or chemicals. Not only that, but we respect our local farmers too. The most important takeaway here is that if you’re going to buy meat, buy it from your local farmer.