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A recent survey by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture found that more than two-thirds of respondents “somewhat” or “strongly” agreed that local food is better for their health than food that has traveled cross-country. Eating locally grown foods has become the latest trend in our battle to eat better and live healthier lives. Sales of locally grown food are expected to jump from approximately $4 billion in 2002 to $5 billion in 2007, according to a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts. So what is this movement all about? Read on.

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What is the concept of eating locally grown?
According to Erin Barnett, the director of LocalHarvest.org, “‘Eating local’ means different things to different people, depending on how ‘local’ is defined.” Some define locally grown as within a 100-mile radius of where they live. But the overarching concept is that you purchase and eat foods that are produced close to home. “You might be able to get eggs raised just five miles down the road, but cheese from the state next to yours. Both choices take the food’s geographical origins into account, and that is the decision-making tool at the heart of eating locally grown,” says Barnett.

Why buy local?
“Local production often means getting fresher food,” says Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., the senior scientist and policy analyst at the nonprofit Consumers Union. The main reason, according to Rangan — it hasn't been trucked thousands of miles, which can leave more time for food to spoil, especially produce. “But there are even more advantages to local food production. It saves on gasoline and reduces pollution from transporting food (which can help to reduce global warming), and, in many cases, it supports smaller-scale farmers,” says Rangan. So, basically, eating locally grown supports the local economy; you eat fresher, less-processed foods, think about your food more, get to know your local growers and help the environment — not bad.

Is it difficult to eat locally grown foods?
“Variety and balance are two key elements of a healthy diet. Trying to eat 100 percent local is difficult, impractical and can limit or eliminate some whole nutritious foods,” says Laura Pensiero, R.D., a chef and nutritionist in Rhinebeck, N.Y. Her approach: Eat local when possible.

Is it easier to buy locally grown foods in particular parts of the country, and if so, where?
“Certainly it is easier to buy fresh local produce in areas of the country with long growing seasons. But even in your region’s off-season, you may find an excellent variety of pasture-raised meats, or milk from family-owned dairies, or honey, or particular nuts, or seafood,” says Barnett. Also, there are many crops that can be stored and/or grown in the winter. At Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture, in Pocantico Hills, N.Y., four-season farmer Jack Algiere grows more than 100 different crops in summer and 35 in winter. “You can store root vegetables, beans, squash and fruits to enjoy during the winter in addition to the crops you can grow in the cold. Right now, we’re planting spinach, bok choi, mache, kale and broccoli rabe for December harvest — these crops do well in the cold with only minimal protection from the elements. And in our minimally heated greenhouse, we grow lettuces, turnips and many other crops throughout the year," says Algiere.

Are there any studies that support the concept that locally grown foods are more nutritious?
“Not exactly, as a study like that would be difficult to do. Absolute nutrient content has so many variables, such as soil fertility, ripening times, etc.,” says Rangan. However, research does show that produce picked at its peak has the highest nutrient content. Once it is picked, fresh produce will gradually start to degrade, she adds. Plus, many argue that local produce just tastes better, which means we will eat more of it on a regular basis.

Isn’t eating local restrictive, repetitive and boring?
Not necessarily. According to Rangan, the varieties of any one kind of local produce can be even more diverse than what you would find at a typical supermarket. “Garlic ramps, watermelon radishes, fingerling potatoes – these are just a few examples of the diversity of products that you can find. If you enjoy cooking, you may find the variety inspiring,” she adds.

In fact, “People who buy at the supermarket get the same selection day in, day out, 365 days a year. It gets boring to look at that same array. You end up eating the same spuds or broccoli or apples and pears. When you shop seasonally, you eat berries in June and pears in November. It’s much more appealing to change foods frequently,” says Nina Planck, author of Real Food: What to Eat & Why (Bloomsbury, 2006) and founder of farmer’s markets in London and Washington, D.C. 
 
What about my morning coffee?
Well, coffee is not grown in the continental United States, so unless you live in Columbia or some other coffee-growing region, you’re not going to be able to get the beans locally. However, there are other labels you can look for to support sustainable farming practices, especially for food that tends to be imported, says Rangan. She recommends looking for coffee and other products that have the words “organic” and “fair trade” on the label.

Is it more expensive to eat locally grown foods?
Typically, you can join a food cooperative or a Community Sponsored Agriculture program (where you support a local farm and get shares of the produce), and the costs are very reasonable. Also, if you shop at your local farmer’s market (straight to consumer from the farm), the food may be even cheaper than in the supermarket because you are buying direct, without the middleman, says Rangan.

Does eating locally grown foods take an enormous amount of time?
Greenmarkets and Community Sponsored Ag programs offer easy ways to access locally grown foods. Also, how about sharing a program with neighbors and alternating pickups? You can start a cooking club, alternating cooking nights with friends and neighbors, too. “This is fun, time-saving, and you will build relationships and learn a lot about ingredients and food,” says Pensiero. You can also participate in “pick-your-own” farms, or join a food co-op. If you're interested in sustainable food production, conserving oil, polluting less, supporting local farmers, eating new and interesting varieties of food, then the effort to do those things may be worth it to you, Rangan adds.

Is there any evidence that you will be eating healthier and/or lose weight?
Well, foods at the greenmarkets tend to be a lot less processed. So if you're tempted by junk food or the frozen-food aisle, your diet may very well benefit from buying locally produced food, says Rangan.

Does locally grown mean better quality?
According to Susan Moores, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, “It can, but much hinges on growers and their farming/production practices.” Local can and does mean wonderful things, but it’s not an assurance.

Does locally grown mean organic?
No, these are two separate concepts, says Barnett. The United States Department of Agriculture requires that certified organic crops "be produced without pesticides, herbicides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering or ionizing radiation." Some local food is organic, but certainly not all. However, according to Moores, “Many farmers producing great foods have opted not to become certified as organic, yet their practices are stellar.” Still, the best combination appears to be both organic and locally grown foods.

How do you get started eating locally grown?
Take a look at www.LocalHarvest.org, which offers a national online directory of farmers who market their goods directly to the public.

The following are a few other sources to help you get started eating locally grown:
www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets — Lists 4,385 farmer’s markets currently operating in the United States.
www.foodroutes.org — Information and news about locally grown food.
www.sustainabletable.org — Recipes, tips, news and information about community and food.
www.eatwellguide.org — Find food in your neighborhood and when you travel that is healthful, humane, better for the environment, and that supports family farmers.
www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa — Information about and listings of Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
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CHARLES STUART PLATKIN is a nutrition and public health advocate, founder of DietDetective.com, the health and fitness network and author of The Diet Detective's Calorie Bargain Bible (Simon & Schuster, 2007). Copyright 2007 by Charles Stuart Platkin. All rights reserved. Sign up for the free Diet Detective newsletter and iTunes podcast at www.DietDetective.com.

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