There is a rising consciousness in the media (check out this week's Time Magazine) and public about organic foods that is also giving rise to debates over the age old question that we in the business have been murmurring about at conferences and seminars for quite some time now. It is: Is it better to buy local food that's grown conventionally, or organic food that's shipped across the country?
I thought I would weigh in with my two cents.
First of all, I think most people, and probably everyone reading this blog would agree that local, organically grown food is top shelf. Certified Organic even better for the consumer who doesn't really know the farmer and his methods. Certification is your guaranty that the food is indeed grown organically and nobody is cutting corners. Know your food by knowing your farmer or buy certified to be sure.
After that, the debate rages. I personally feel that any food grown conventionally with pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, chemical nitrates, fumigants, etc. etc. is ultimately harmful to the environment. Anybody disagreemnet there? No. Okay, the burning of fossil fuels to ship any produce 1,500 miles or more, whether organic or conventional also harms the environment. So. is that a wash? Whose to say which harms the environment more? I'll call it a toss up.
That leaves me to ask, which food is more harmful to your body; pesticide free or pesticide laden? Organic or conventional? Pestified free and organic, of course!
Therefore, I would choose the non-local organic over the local conventional, because both can do harm to the environment but the conventionally grown food may harm your health in the long run.
But of course here at Hilltop Farms you get both local and organic, picked and delivered in the same day. Thank God, that most places around the country today consumers have that same option! Especially in the Triangle, local organic farms, certified and non, abound. many selling at farmers markets and many offering CSA subscriptions. Life is good, or rather, life can be good if you so choose.
In conclusion, buy local, buy organic, buy often and eat healthy!
Farmer Fred
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