by Mike Kottke

Created on: November 21, 2008   Last Updated: November 22, 2008

I suppose that the best way to frame one's position in this debate, since the title is presented in the absolute terms and context of "...eat only locally produced, organic food..." -the word "only" being key-would be to reverse the question and pose it in the same but opposite absolute terms and context:

Should people eat only foods produced by modern, industrialized agriculture that employs toxic chemical substances in order to increase production and inhibit weeds and pests; that has only very weak and inadequate federal regulatory oversight that more often than not favors the bottom line of the corporations that make a profit from the marketing of this food than it does the health and well-being of the consumer; that is increasingly being produced in other countries which have even less regulatory oversight than ours and is being imported into our food markets as being "safe" to consume; that by its very nature in this context must be produced with the priorities of increased yield, uniform ripening, convenience of harvest, long-range transportation logistics, processing, preservation and profitability in mind as opposed to the priorities of nutritional value, flavor and freshness; and that is becoming increasingly contaminated with genetically modified organisms the long term health consequences of which are yet to be determined?

Who in their right mind, given an informed choice, could answer "yes" to this!?!

So, given an either/or choice between these two absolutes, one would logically have to make the choice-however unrealistic it might be in the current model of production and distribution-to eat only locally grown, organic foods.

The sad reality, to the point that it is an outrage, of our modern times is that the majority of consumers have only one choice and this being the less desirable of the two. Regrettably, the majority of consumers cannot afford to eat the healthiest of foods available. Perhaps even more regrettable than this is that the majority of consumers are totally unknowledgeable and ignorant of the difference. "What's wrong with the commercially produced foods from the grocery store?" "The government wouldn't let them do anything that would be unhealthy for us!"

Granted, the awareness of the general public as it regards health and nutrition has been modestly increasing recently-but not to the degree needed.

Very serious health issues that stem directly from nutritional intake-or lack thereof or lack of a balance thereof-are rampant in a society

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