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| Yes | 41% | 144 votes | Total: 354 votes | |
| No | 59% | 210 votes |
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Add to FavoritesI believe the answer is a resounding yes to the question of eating mainly locally produced, organic food. When we choose to eat locally grown foods, we not only support our farmers financially, we get to eat food more nutrient packed due to the fact the food didn't travel a long distance before reaching us, and organically grown means no pesticides were used. All of these reasons are major pluses for consumers as well as for farmers.
I would venture that many consumers younger than thirty have never tasted a fresh farm egg. Growing up with the perfectly oval, white egg is all they know. Store bought eggs are usually
close to expiration when purchased, have a yellowish yolk, and taste nothing like a fresh farm egg. Fresh farm eggs will not be perfectly shaped, some will be large, others small, some will have double yolks, with the yolks a reddish orange in color, and there may be a little chicken poop on the shell. When the shell is broken, the yolk slips quickly out..a great indicator of freshness. In addition, all the vitamins and minerals are intact in a fresh farm egg. Another plus is fresh farm eggs may last for a couple of months or more in the refrigerator.
With the recent salmonella scare of fresh Roma, plum and slicing tomatoes, it only makes sense to buy locally grown organic fruits and vegetables. Why? Because all the biological legwork enlisted trying to find the source of the contamination would be much easier to locate if the tomatoes had been grown and purchased locally. This latest salmonella contamination scare has increased to several states and also has sickened many. It's more than a little frustrating that we still don't know where it all originated from. We should be asking ourselves why we are constantly risking our health by entrusting the FDA to give us peace of mind by ensuring our food supply will be safe. The truth is, the FDA has failed us miserably.
In reality, those in larger metropolitan areas may not find it easy to access fresh locally grown organic foods, yet farmers markets are making a comeback, thereby supplying a growing need for many who would otherwise have no choice but to buy the bulk of their foods from large grocery chains.
In conclusion, when we shop locally, to the best of our ability, we know where our food comes from, there is no guesswork involved. I believe next to growing our own food, purchasing locally produced organic food wins hands down every time.
Learn more about this author, Paula Countryman.
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No
People should eat whatever they want. If someone wants to see how long they can last on beer and jello, then that is what they should do. What people should not do. Is waste their time thinking about what others should do. So you eat organic food. So what? That doesn't make you in any way superior to someone that lives on fast food. You might live longer, but who really wants all of you stuck up, pretentious, self important snobs around anyway.
Now look, I'm all for supporting local fisherman and local farms. I am not however, interested in supporting any business that worships their own bottom line enough to hire illegals. In Sonoma County this disgusting display of treason for personal gain is the norm. Every winery and fish processing plant are staffed almost exclusively with illegals. I'd support business if it wasn't selfishly spitting all over the constitution.
Honestl y, I can't say that food bought from somewhere else is done so in an ethical manner. I can say with great confidence that the local industries have been tainted with treason. For myself and my family integrity tastes better than any organic or local food.
I wonder, are the organic eaters more happy for their food choice? Is theirs a life filled with the excitement and fulfillment that a lowly Bigmac eater like myself can only read about? I think not. Most of these people look hungry and seem to be the ones doing the lion's share of the complaining.
I guess my point is. There is no point to eating locally grown organic, or locally fished food. It will not increase the amount of joy I experience, nor will it allow me to live forever. It is more expensive to shop in stores like Whole Foods, and the crowd makes me feel like taking a shower. This lingering presence of the outdated hippy is increasingly annoying. It seems to me that if all these middle class burn outs can afford a $5 tomato. They have probably sold out at least some of their misguided principles. Maybe they should take a look at the people they have become.
In these turbulent times people should really be looking within. They should be worrying what they themselves can do to enrich their own lives. Too often I'm confronted with conversation of what others should do. Just as often I am stuck wondering why every one cares. Life happens fast, maybe everyone needs to grab a Bigmac and reflect on how they feel about the decisions that have got them where they are today.
Learn more about this author, David Baker.
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