by Carly Foubert, CFICE Communications RA
Whether you’re a self-proclaimed locavore or just a lover of food, today, let’s eat local!
I’m sure you’ve heard of the now global trend of eating within a hundred mile radius. This trend is all thanks to Vancouverites Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon and their year-long local food experiment, which they documented in their book, “The 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating.”
Why should you eat local?
Buying local means you know where your food is coming from. You may know who grew or produced it. Or you may even get your food directly from the farmer, cutting out the process of the food travelling to and from the supermarket. Buying local also means you’re getting fresher food by eliminating the time between picking and consumption. The added bonus? You’ll be inadvertently reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by transporting the food.
Buying local also supports and builds community. It puts money back into the community, therefore strengthening it and its economic base. CFICE has seen time and again how food has the capacity to bring people together. Our partner, Sharing the Table Manitoba, is part of a movement that advocates for local food and food producers. They operate on the basis of supporting their community; Manitobans feeding Manitobans.
While buying local does mean that you’re limited to purchasing what’s in season, don’t let that stop you from eating what you love. Try preserving ingredients while they’re in season so you can enjoy them all year long. Turn those summer berries into delicious jam or freeze them for breakfast smoothies. Or save those extra tomatoes to make into chilli for the winter months.
So grab your reusable shopping bag and head to the market for some wonderful local finds.