today seems to be a down day. just went to visit an organic cafe near my home which sells organic local produce twice a week. this is provided by a welfare organisation that helps poor communities to grow vegetables. i was so excited, thinking i had found the solution to my local quest for fresh produce, plus it has the benefit that the money goes back to the poor communities who grew it… but then i was chatting to the owner of the cafe (who also stocks organic products imported from all over the world) and he was saying that this organic produce market probably has quite a high carbon footprint. this is because the welfare organisation drives all over the city stopping at the various small gardens to pick up little bits and pieces of poduce…
the cafe owner was of the opinion that we are never going to reduce our carbon footprints in any significant way on our own and that we need to streamline our transport systems rather.

this little exchange got me all anguished about why i am on such a mission to eat local. what difference can i make? why should i put my boyfriend and i through all this missioning, if it’s really for nothing. your post above has re-inspired me a little. thanks
(aspirantlocavore.wordpress.com)

Exactly! Great points here. I’d also like to remind folks that that trade in exotic ingredients and spices probably goes as far back as the neolithic – it is by no means a modern invention.

I believe there’s nothing wrong with including interesting seasonings or even the odd exotic main ingredient into your diet – I just believe that, for our family, we want to keep that to a minimum if we want to feel good about what we’re eating and ensure we are getting top nutrition for our food dollars spent.

The good news is, I’m finding that we can often still have the flavors we want, but with mostly local ingredients – if we take the time to seek them out and keep an adventurous outlook on using them.

Very well said! You put into words many of the thoughts floating around in my head…

Going to extremes (like giving up coffee and wine! eek!) does make a point though, and it’s probably good that some high-profile locavores are doing it. But, I don’t think it’s the way to convince the ordinary person to make changes. Instead I think when a person sees a neighbor, co-worker, friend, etc. making changes little by little, that person is much more likely to change their own habits. For example, since I started shopping at the farmer’s market instead of a regular grocery, many of my friends/family have started doing so as well! Little by little, change will come!

Green Bean: As so many have pointed out, and I wish I said it in my original post, damn it, fresh, local food TASTES GOOD!

Sara: We can change the world, one yummy bite at a time.

Wendy: You make that point well.

G+N: Thanks!

Debbie: If it’s in the cupboards already, it’s totally fair game. I’m thinking of a post-holiday cupboard-cleaning menu-planning project. Use up what you can in your cupboards, and buy only essentials needed to make stuff with what you have. I’m considering posting about that here – a New Year’s resolution of sorts!

I don’t consider myself an in-your-face locavore either. I’ve never admonished anyone for eating food with a more interesting passport than mine. I’m choosing to do this for all the wonderful reasons there are to do this. I keep a blog to document my findings and solicit help (as in, anyone know where to get such-and-such in my foodshed?).

Sometimes it works out better than others. I’m relatively new to local eating, so there is still quite a bit of worldly food in my freezer and cupboards. I’m not throwing it out. Much of it went to a food bank and the rest will be consumed by me, over time.

Again, being new to the scene, I haven’t done much in the way of putting by. What I did freeze, I mostly squandered on my Thanksgiving guests. Their compliments were well worth it. So, I will probably be eating some far away foods over the winter.

In this short space of time, my food decision method has irrevocably changed. I now always ask where something came from and will usually choose the closest. I will continue to (re)learn seasonality and apply that to my choices. My oranges will come from Florida because it’s closer than California and I will eat them in November and December because that’s when they’re in season. But I will eat them, even though I live in Connecticut because I need the vitamins, I like the taste, and they will never grow here naturally.

It’s a complex system, this eating business and I am not going to solve it in a quarter of a year. I am grateful to have stumbled upon the locavore movement (thank you Kingsolver) and I consider it a lifelong journey. I am grateful to all of the other blog-keepers for their insights, know-how, and enthusiasm.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.