Local Love

I saw a news clip this morning that said that each human creates more carbon emissions by what they eat than they do by driving.

For example, if you buy a fresh pineapple, realize that that pineapple had to be FLOWN from somewhere tropical to get to you, then probably trucked in to your local grocery. The same is true of all imports.

So what do you do? Eat local, as much as possible.

Yes, it's easy for me to say. I live in California. I could eat nothing but farmer's market produce year round. But even in colder climates you can do your best. Don't buy corn from the grocery store, as there's a good chance it was trucked in from Iowa, or somewhere random. Go find those kids selling it out of the back of a truck. The same goes for tomatoes and other produce. See if there is a local farmer's market anywhere. Of course, driving an hour out of your way to get produce kind of defeats the purpose, but if you plan properly, you can combine trips. This has the added bonus of supporting small farms, which are a dying breed.

Remember, small changes help. Make a raspberry or rhubarb dessert in the summer, instead of something with lemons. Even if you buy them at the store, there's a better chance they are local.

Also, I've always wondered about milk in Wisconsin. Does the milk we buy at the grocery store come from Wisconsin cows? If so, is it also PROCESSED in Wisconsin? That part is important. See if you can check the label and find out. You might be suprised. Same goes with cheese. There is NO REASON to buy Vermont cheese or Vermont maple syrup in Wisconsin.

What else is local to your area?