Go Green or Go Local

Living a "green" lifestyle? Now, what does that truly entail? Architecture to agriculture? In fact, eating organic has become the trendy thing to do. But lets delve into the phrase organic. What are the downfalls of this seemingly wild craze in society? Should we buy and enjoy local produce instead?

Let's Add It Up: The Cost

First and foremost, the sheer expense of eating organic products is well above affordable. Purchasing organic items on your grocery list can often be double the price of buying non-organic. The mark-up for organic products stems from both the intensive labor needed to grow organic and transport products across the United States. Organic products are not treated with pesticides. Farmers must give extra care and attention to the crop. This additional manpower equates to more money.

Most organic products are transported to supermarkets across the United States from warmer climates, i.e, California. While you can reduce the cost of your organic products by eating seasonally, this is not a realistic goal for buyers in colder climates. Therefore, eating organic year round can definitely break the bank. Buying organic products rather than those grown locally further strengthens the food industry's dependence on petroleum. This form of transport not only puts a dent in our piggy banks, but also our environment through harmful air pollution. Locavores, an organization dedicated to the purchasing of local products, states that our food travels 1,500 miles on average before it reaches our kitchen counter. Moreover, the absence of pesticides actually reduces the amount of petroleum used, while reducing chemicals harmful to your body. So it's a fine line indeed. Do the cost and health benefits of the use or absence of petroleum outweigh the objective?

How Fresh Is It?

Another factor to consider when eating organic over local is with respect to freshness of the product. Organic foods being transported across states are not going to be as fresh as those picked up from your local farmers market. The taste of certain vegetables and fruits, such as squash, are not affected by storage, and therefore can be purchased in their organic form even if they are shipped cross-country. However, fresher food we all know tastes better. The purchase and consumption of local products helps keep funds in your community, which in turn boosts the local economy. Buying locally alleviates our dependence on outside suppliers for food, thus relieving distribution issues.

Health Benefits of Organic vs. Local

A study at UC Davis concluded that while there are vegetables and fruit that are more nutritionally complete in their organic form (i.e. tomatoes), some vegetables and fruit such as bell peppers show no substantial difference in nutritional benefits compared to their non-organic version. Society has become more dependent on science to tell us what we should and should not eat. However, the advances in science still fall short in providing accurate information about the nutritional value of local vs. organic products.

To Each Their Own

Ideally, shopping at a local farmers market or starting your own veggie patch seem to be the best options for the environment and your body, although these are unrealistic for those in the north. Here are some tips to getting creative, being "green" and saving money too:

-Plan your meals based on seasonal produce. Patrick Connolly of the West Village hotspot, Bobo, suggests, "Let the products with the best value determine what is for dinner."

-Purchase extra vegetables and fruits while in season and get creative with different methods of preservation such as freezing, jarring, drying and canning.

-Check out localharvest.org for local listings of grocery stores, co-ops,(Community Supported Agriculture) programs, farmers markets and restaurants that grow, buy, sell and cook locally. New York City itself had over 100 listings!

Let the truth be told - we have a greater knowledge of the food in our own backyard compared to that from distant lands. So go "green" or go local...but remember in the end it's your preference and pocketbook. Treat your palate how you please.

— Written by Christina Licata

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