The average Canadian meal travels 2,500 km from the field to our plates. Have you ever noticed how far some of the food travels from to reach your grocery store? You can purchase snow peas from China and apples from New Zealand, yet these are produce items we can grow here in Canada. Think for a moment about the trip that food must take to reach your grocery store.
According to the Canadian Government, a 40-tonne transport truck releases about five tonnes of GHGs for one typical shipment of food, which close to the average carbon footprint of one person per year! Those long trips are contributing to global warming and climate change.
A Low Carbon Diet is all about reducing the impact on the environment. Buying local food can greatly reduce your carbon footprint and help you to go green. It not only improves the environment, it also helps the local economy and provides you with fresher food that often has more nutrients.
There are a number of ways to go about shopping local. The easy way to work on your low carbon diet is to read the labels in your local supermarket. You will often see food from within your own province/state next to imported food. To have more of an impact on your low carbon diet, purchase your food from one of the following sources.
Most communities have a farmer’s market at least once per week where local producers will sell their fruit, vegetables, baked goods, and sweets. This is also a great way to support your local economy!
Beware though of the “distributors” who attend these events as they sell food from a food terminal which may be from imported food. The best defence against this is to ask the vendor who they are and where they produce their food.
You may find a local vegetable and/or fruit market in your area. They often sell much more local produce than the national supermarket chains. Make sure you read the labels though, as there may be imported produce as well.
Some communities have local food co-op programs where you can pay a fee to obtain a weekly portion of the vegetable crop. Some programs will deliver the food to your door, while others will require you to pick-up the produce at a central location.
Purchasing whole milk (unpasteurized) is illegal at stores in most provinces/states due to a general health risk. If you are looking for the benefits of whole milk, you can purchase a share in a milking cow, which will allow you to pick-up a weekly allotment of whole milk.
Many farmers are willing to sell their produce directly from their farm. The challenge can be finding them. Check with your local farmer’s association to begin your search. The reward is often worth the fresh taste and the knowledge that you’re supporting a local farmer. More and more people are starting to build relationships with their local food producers.