Reason #6 for Eating Local Food

Know Where Your Food Comes From

As we started 100 Mile Harvest, we were just starting to learn about the way in which factory farms and worldwide food distribution had impacted the way we eat, from the farmer all the way down to the individual consumer. We were buying organic products, mostly for their health benefits but also for the hopeful idea that they were all good for our planet. What we weren't reading was the fine print that indicated where these products were coming from. It was shocking for us to realize that most of our frozen fruits were better traveled than we were. And that's just fruit, whose "Product of..." label at least lets you imagine a direct line from its origin to your supermarket.

Worse still were processed foods. Now the ingredient list could be 10, 20 or 30 items long! We had to step back and imagine the food routes for each of those ingredients and we were struck by just how many stops there could be on the way to making a single snack food item.

And so we simplified our family menu...only whole foods, and only food from our growing region. We received a quick education on what it is to eat seasonally, how fruits and vegetables are grown on small, organic farms, and even how animal products are produced. We saw firsthand what goes into making artisanal cheese and finally understood how chickens are transformed from farm animals into food items. Most people only vaguely "know" how these things happen; going behind the curtain and participating gives one a true appreciation for the miracle and responsibility we all share in feeding ourselves and our families.

But even before setting foot on a farm, we took the first step that makes all the difference: we engaged the farmers in conversation and started asking questions. Having left behind the comfort of labels in a supermarket, it was important for us to develop a relationship and level of trust with these vendors. Only dialog was going to ensure that we would feel comfortable with the purchases we were making. Did you grow these on your farm? Are those organic? How long have you used sustainable methods? Why did you decide to transition to organic farming?

In time, we found a number of vendors who earned our trust completely. Each week now, we get an update on what is ready for harvest and what has recently gone into the ground. We've received invitations to tour farms, to help plant a crop, or to just "visit." As enlightened consumers, the connection we have found to food and place is one that feels simple, clear and direct.

And it only gets better when you can walk away from the farmers' market holding a head of cabbage or a fistful of onions that you planted a couple of months before!

Do you know where your food comes from? Why is it important to you?