Why Local Matters
Gemma Shelton // April 23, 2012
The thought process when most of us shop for groceries is typically pretty simple: What do I need and want? See, pick-up, and purchase. For those of us on a budget (i.e. students), price can be a dominant factor in said decision-making process. One question that many of us fail to ask when picking out meal ingredients is, where do they come from?
Finding out where food comes from and putting in time to buy locally grown products can be daunting. Buying local is probably not a high priority for students struggling to pay for groceries. However, if we as students, and society in general, knew more about buying locally and how simple it can actually be, we might be more inclined to entertain the thought.
Buying local is becoming a newsworthy topic. Our generation, that is, the so-called millenials, is more concerned about knowing where our food comes from than any other before us. More people want to support local farmers and entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia, and feel good about putting money back into Nova Scotia’s economy. The idea is also sparking a trend within what is fondly known as the “hipster” population, a subculture who often seek only vegan and organic food (the reason sometimes due to animal rights activism, or simply to fulfill an image). Whatever the reason may be, buying local is moving its way to the forefront, and I, for one, am on board.
I became incredibly inspired by this movement after having a lengthy chat with Lil Macphearson, owner of the Wooden Monkey. The restaurant provides guests with local and organic food, fair trade coffee, and locally brewed beer and wine. Lil and her business partner Christine Bower started the restaurant to fill a gap that exists in the Halifax restaurant scene. The Wooden Monkey offers a genuine commitment to the health of the community and is actively responding to the growing health risks occurring in North America.
“There are so many good reasons for people to care about buying locally,” Lil tells me passionately. “There are many serious changes happening in our world that are affecting our agriculture. We are in a bit of a pickle, so to speak. With climate change happening so rapidly we need to keep an eye on the world’s food stock. Urban agriculture is beautiful and we have some of the best farmlands at our disposal. We could be the futures green land. It’s time to wake up.”
Lil and the Christine aren’t the only ones in Halifax who believe a little ‘waking up’ is in order. Students at Kings College are doing a little ‘waking up’ of their own when it comes to the buy local movement.
Kings College students are taking action against their generic and foul-tasting cafeteria food by launching their very own, student-run canteen. Their mandate is to provide the student body with food and drink provided by local suppliers only. While this may seem like a dramatic step, it is a movement that proves that buying local matters and that it is possible even on a student budget. Their plan to sell grilled cheese sandwiches made with Valley Fox Hill cheese will not only be delicious but completely affordable at a price of only six dollars.
Though “trendy” right now, buying local is more than just a fad. It starts with the farmers who take the time to grow produce and livestock in an organic method. These are the farmers we drive by in the rural countryside, and who have been a part of our community for years.
It is a real privilege that these products are available to us and that entrepreneurs have made it possible to indulge in the foods we love, knowing what we’re eating and where it comes from. Take a stroll through the Halifax Farmers’ Markets, both the Keith’s Brewery and Seaport, on Saturday mornings and you can find a cornucopia of fresh, local vegetables, fish, meat, wine, and anything else your taste buds desire.
Local entrepreneurs have been sprouting up all over Halifax with a focus on buying and selling locally grown food providing healthy and organic meals. A convenient approach to buying local products can be found at Home Grown Organics, a Halifax retailer where you can pick up your food or have it delivered. Not much effort involved there! For those who are still unsure about the benefits of buying locally or organic, or have doubts about making the switch, their website offers a wealth of information about locally grown products, fair trade, recipes, cooking tips and more.
Of course, buying locally isn’t the be-all end-all of healthy eating, but it is definitely a start, and it’s not as overwhelming as you may think. By asking questions at your local grocery store, reading the labels on the back of products, doing a little on-line research and, if you’re feeling bold, hopping down to the local Farmers’ Market to indulge in its exquisite tastes and sounds. Locally grown produce is even available at Pete’s Frootique. When you buy local, you can be secure in the knowledge that you are supporting Nova Scotians by eating and drinking products from your own backyard. It doesn’t cost that much more to shop at Pete’s than to shop at Sobeys or Superstore, for example.
The era we now find ourselves in is full of social change movements, from environmental causes, to animal rights activism, and many more. Buying local is not a radical movement, but it is an effective step toward supporting Halifax entrepreneurs, Nova Scotia agriculture, and your own health. Why not be good to yourself and to the community you live in?
“It has been proven, proven, proven that we can grow organic food,” says Lil. “We need to go back to our farmers and support the future of our agriculture- if we want a future at all.”
“Social awareness is so important, especially surrounding this issue. Who wants people tampering with their food and filling it with pesticides? Consider your health! If you can’t make time for wellness, then you’re going to have to make time for illness.” Lil believes that we, as young people, are in a position to influence change. Now is the time to start. Buy local, support your community, and live better.
For more information on buying local (not just food!), you can also visit the I Love Local Halifax website. Check out their upcoming “Open City” event – you won’t be disappointed.
