Earth Day Everyday

Earth Day has come and gone. What did you do to be a little more "green"? Didn't do anything. That's ok, because everyday should be Earth Day not just one day out of the year. For the next few posts, we want to talk about how you can "green" up your life one step at a time. Today, we'll be talking about buying produce locally.

Yesterday, I processed 2 flats of strawberries into jam, preserves, and frozen slices. It got me thinking about our food and buying locally. For instance, the strawberries were purchased from a member of a local 4H club. The berries themselves came from Louisiana. Even if they came from southern Louisiana and were shipped to Northwestern Louisiana, they still only traveled 4-5 hours by truck rather than days like if they came from California, Michigan or Mexico. That's alot of diesel that got saved and helped a local 4H club in the process.

This is the whole premise behind buying our food locally. We stop the pattern of purchasing food grown several states or even countries away. This saves on on diesel, decreases air pollution from said diesel trucks, and the purchase of genetically altered food. Let's face it, those strawberries I purchased may have been different shapes and sizes and had weird lumps and bumps on them, but they were fresh and ripe. The heavenly smell of strawberries permeated my kitchen. This compared to the berries purchased in the store that can stay "ripe" for over a week in my frig and never really smell like "strawberry". We need to remember that what we perceive as "ripe" in the store - often isn't. (Think rock hard peaches, pears and nectarines - they only look ripe, but they really aren't).

Of course, some may complain that buying locally means that we can't buy those berries year round. Only when they are in season. That's the point. We've gotten out of the habit of purchasing foods when they are at their seasonal best. Asparagus in the spring; oranges in the winter; and juicy tomatoes in the summer. Instead, we want them all any time of the year. In reality no one really wins with this system except for the large, industrial farms. Let's face it a mealy, tasteless tomato in the winter doesn't compare to the sun-kissed version purchased from your local farmers market in the summer.

Farmers Markets, road-side stands, U-Pick Farms, and gardens - the best place to buy or grow locally. And buying locally is a win-win for everyone. You the consumer/purchaser receive fresh produce at the height of ripeness. The local farmer, market, etc receives an economic boost which is than shot back into the local economy. That's far better than giving your hard earned dollars to a big-business, industrial farm. Very little of their profits are poured back into the local economy. But local farmers and markets live and shop in your community - so everyone benefits.

Most farmers markets only allow local venders to sell their wares. Local usually means within a 100 or 150 mile radius. So, for Northwest Louisiana some of our produce may come from southern Arkansas or East Texas. Again, this is ok, because it is far better than receiving/puchasing produce from several states or countries away. The product is guaranteed fresh and is usually picked early that morning or the night before. If my strawberries had come from California, they may have been picked 7-10 days ago. Fresh? I don't think so.

U-Pick Farms are, of course, very local. You do the driving. I have no qualms driving to Frierson or Haughton to pick blueberries and blackberries. Why? Because, again I'm supporting a local enterprise and often family run business. The berries are fresh picked - straight from the bushes and vines. And I get to spend quality time with my children as a family. In fact, this is a family event that we all look forward to each year. Similarly, we have families that come specifically to Country Fun Farm each fall to pick their pumpkins straight from the vine. We appreciate the support, just like the Blueberry Farms appreciate ours.

For Northwest Louisiana, the local farmers markets, produce stands and U-Pick Farms are starting to open and share their wealth of deliciousness. So support Earth Day Everyday buy buying locally. Even one pint of strawberries purchased locally is better than nothing. And of course it tastes like heaven on a little ice cream.