The winner of the prize for putting down the important benefits of buying locally was conducted by Lincoln University in New Zealand, which used LCA to show that apples, onions, dairy and lamb shipped from New Zealand to England use less energy than producing the same products for local consumption in Britain. Not surprisingly, this study was paid for by the New Zealand lamb industry; the very industry that the article would benefit.
For example, the study fails to compare “apples to apples” as it looks at the energy use of grass fed New Zealand lamb to conventional, UK lamb, which is locally available. Similarly, the study concludes that tomatoes shipped into England from Spain had a lower energy impact than those grown locally in hothouses. An astute letter to the New Yorker noted that eating hothouse tomatoes is not what most devotees of local food have in mind. Heated greenhouse production is one of the hotspots identified by researchers at UC Davis as extremely energy intensive.
For people who are eating locally, or regionally, as a low impact food choice it means eating food that was grown seasonally and in accordance with local ecosystems. It is about reveling in what the season has to offer, which may mean bounty at times and scarcity at others. It means a greater connection to the environment that we live in, and better tasting, healthier food, grown for flavor and nutrition, not for long distance shipping or the fluorescent glow of supermarket lights. It also means getting to meet the people who grow our food, see the farms where it comes from, and directly supporting local businesses that will reinvest in our communities. These are benefits that may not be easily quantified by Life Cycle Assessment or reflected in the size of a carbon footprint.
Online, National Resources:
Foodroutes.org
Eatwell.org
Slowfoodusa.com
Localharvest.org
Recommended Books:
The Omnivores Dilemna by Michael Pollen
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Revolution Will Not be Microwaved by Sandor Ellix Katz
Photo courtesy of Community Alliance with Family Farmers
