The Importance of Local Eating
Supporting Local is Part of a Bigger Picture.
Growing up, and even still to this day, I LOVE going to the farmer’s market. I found so much joy and inspiration in being able to meet the people who grew all the fresh and beautiful food, making community connections, and I have always loved being around all the gorgeous colours and freshness.
I remember one of the most astounding and massive markets I’ve been to was located in Montreal, Quebec. I was about 13 years old and awe-struck by the symphony of sights, smells, sounds, flavour… My senses were going wild! It was very busy but I was just so in wonder of what surrounded me: vibrant produce, handmade goods, fresh fish and lobster and the most beautiful freshly baked treats I had ever seen!
That was the day my Dad bought me my first stone mortar and pestle and to this day, it is a well-loved item in my kitchen
That market experience not only fostered a beautiful and precious memory, but it also taught me the importance of buying local. I got to witness, at least at surface-level, an entire community of people supporting one another and sharing what they had put their heart and soul into preparing. Shopping Local for your food is not only better for the environment, but it supports your local community and economy. Local food also gifts us with an enormous amount of Nutritional benefits:
1. Enjoying fresh, flavourful, seasonal food
Knowing where your food comes from and enjoying fresh food that hasn’t spent months being transported to your table. Instead, eating nutrient-dense and beautiful foods that are in season and more nourishing than imported foods.
2. Supporting your community
You are supporting the livelihood of your friends, neighbours, your families, the list goes on! Buying from local, sustainable, organic (if you’re lucky!) farms means that you are making a conscious decision against things like factory farming, mass pollution, and unsustainable farming methods. This is a huge part of advocating for our planet and for your own health.
3. Knowing where your food comes from
Maybe you’ve never thought about this before, but do you know how far your food has travelled to meet you? I’m not only talking about how long you spend in the store and how long it takes for you to bring it home… I’m talking about how long it takes before it arrives in the store. The fact is, most produce is harvested unripe and prematurely so it stays as “fresh” as possible before you pick it up at the store. This means that it is losing nutritional value before you even have it in your hands.
To wrap this up, by no means am I saying that we need to boycott grocery stores. What I’m hoping to do is plant a seed and make you more conscious of what you eat and what you are supporting on a larger scale. So, take a trip to your local farmers market and ask questions to some of the farmers, take it all in. Don’t stop learning.
