People are often surprised when I tell them that I prefer to buy local over organic produce. My ideal is to buy from local organic farms but, if that’s not possible, I will generally choose the local farm over going to the supermarket to buy organic. Here’s why:
· Many local farms are small and while they may not be certified organic (a process which can be quite costly), they often commit to the Farmer's Pledge whereby they employ growing techniques that are similar or better to organic ones.
· Many organic farms have now become large-scale industrial operations and, while they may use organic pesticides and fertilizers, they still have to use a lot of chemicals on the produce. In addition, their intensive farming methods tend to deplete and degrade the soil, which, in the long run, is not very sustainable.
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· I feel better supporting small local farms than large industrial operations. I feel that we are quickly losing touch with the way food is grown and need to encourage small, local farmers who spend their time growing the best produce for us to eat.
So, while local produce may not come with all the certifications that organic farms do, they are still committed to providing the best produce and to growing food in a way that is sustainable for the environment.
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The great thing is that there are many ways to get locally-grown produce (and other wonderful locally-grown products). There are services that will deliver produce straight to our doorstep, such as: Mike’s Organic Delivery (www.mikesorganicdelivery.com)*, CT Farm Fresh Express (www.ctffe.com)*, Fresh Nation (www.freshnation.com). There are also great farmer’s markets which are always fun to visit. Old Greenwich has a Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays from 3-6pm, Greenwich has a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
*Check out interviews with the owners of Mike’s Organic Delivery and CT Farm Fresh Express on my website – www.liveeatcookhealthy.com.
Rachel Khanna is a Chef and Certified Health Counselor. She resides with her husband and four daughters in Greenwich CT. She has also recently published a cookbook called Live Eat Cook Healthy: Simple, fresh and delicious recipes for balanced living. Visit her website at: www.liveeatcookhealthy.com.
