{"id":792,"date":"2008-10-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-10-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chisnell.www216-119-142-248.a2hosted.com\/chizblog\/?p=792"},"modified":"2017-08-09T03:14:49","modified_gmt":"2017-08-09T03:14:49","slug":"eating-locally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/eating-locally\/","title":{"rendered":"Eating Locally"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve been reading books lately about food.\u00a0Not cookbooks (which I have finally just abandoned), but books on how our food is brought to us.\u00a0\u00a0You know what I mean:\u00a0\u00a0what is a Twinkie, where did that tomato come from, and why should I be afraid of that chocolate?<\/p>\n

To offer an overview of it all is daunting.\u00a0Suffice it to say that I\u2019m convinced.\u00a0\u00a0Between books like\u00a0Michael Pollan\u2019s\u00a0Omnivore\u2019s Dilemma\u00a0<\/em><\/a>and\u00a0Brian Halwell\u2019s\u00a0Eat Here<\/em>,<\/a>between\u00a0Schlosser\u2019s\u00a0Fast Food Nation\u00a0<\/em><\/a>andNestle\u2019s\u00a0Food Politics<\/em><\/a>, I am frustrated with the dark side of my dinner plate.<\/p>\n

Typical supermarket processed foods are carted half-way across the planet, causing environmental damage.\u00a0\u00a0More, in order for that tomato to reach us, it\u2019s harvested before it\u2019s ripe, genetically-modified to prevent early rotting (often at the cost of taste), and then artificially ripened in warehouses via chemical gases.\u00a0\u00a0Food pricing and quality-control policies internationally and domestically push small farmers out of work, reward corporations for reducing diversity of crops, and allow pesticide-tainted or genetically-modified crops to enter our food chain without warning labels. We consume so many artificial ingredients that we shouldn\u2019t wonder why we have more and more chemical sensitivities.<\/p>\n

Okay, so set all that aside.\u00a0\u00a0Here\u2019s what I want to do:\"\"<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. I want to eat food\u00a0grown locally<\/strong>, the closer to my kitchen, the better.\u00a0\u00a0It doesn\u2019t travel far so it\u2019s more fresh and more nutritious.<\/li>\n
  2. I want to eat food that is\u00a0processed less<\/strong>, which goes with the above.\u00a0\u00a0That means I want to cook more and \u201czap\u201d less.\u00a0\u00a0It also causes less waste in packaging.<\/li>\n
  3. I want to eat food that is\u00a0organic<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0The fewer toxins in my system, the better.<\/li>\n
  4. I want to eat food that has been\u00a0traded fairly<\/strong>, meaning that the farmer has been adequately compensated for food she has grown.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Sounds fine.\u00a0\u00a0But how do I do it, especially in a southeast Michigan drowning in superstores and Pop-Tarts?<\/p>\n

    I found a farmer\u2019s market only a half-mile away.\u00a0\u00a0The food is grown in a small farm in Romeo, about 12 miles away from me.\u00a0\u00a0The people are friendly and they know me.\u00a0\u00a0I\u2019m also eating more vegetables and fruits because they\u2019re actually good!<\/h5>\n

    But they are only open a few months each year.\u00a0\u00a0I have to give up my love of bananas.\u00a0\u00a0If I want to eat year-round, I have to learn to can foods.<\/p>\n

    I pack more and more fresh vegetables and simple foods in re-usable containers.<\/h5>\n

    But my supermarket is full or processed foods.\u00a0\u00a0They\u2019re packaged for convenience, as if they know I need to eat in the car, on the run, pack a lunch.\u00a0It\u2019s so much easier, and there are some foods I just can\u2019t find without preservatives and chemicals.<\/p>\n

    I buy more and more certified organic foods, and the cost of these foods is coming down quickly as consumer demand goes up.\u00a0\u00a0Stores broaden their selections more and more.<\/h5>\n

    But many organic labels are misleading. Processed foods which are organic accomplish little, destroying any potential nutritional benefits at the factory. They often travel too far which is a dirtier process than what was saved in their pesticide-less production. And some labels become \u201ctrendy items,\u201d raising the price beyond the practical and increasing the profits of corporations which practice less environmentally-friendly methods.<\/p>\n

    I buy more and more fair-trade foods, especially in coffees and chocolates.\"\"<\/h5>\n

    But these remain the hardest of all, sold in niche markets only, priced for trendiness as much as justice, and they often travel far.<\/p>\n

    In short, trying to live cleanly and nutritionally well remains difficult, as much a challenge of time and energy as it is opportunity and affordability.<\/p>\n

    Perhaps I should feel guilty.\u00a0\u00a0And perhaps I should shrug my shoulders and say that this is just another part of a 21st<\/sup>\u00a0century global awareness which remains impractical . . . and therefore unreasonable.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    I\u2019ve been reading books lately about food.\u00a0Not cookbooks (which I have finally just abandoned), but books on how our food is brought to us.\u00a0\u00a0You know what I mean:\u00a0\u00a0what is a Twinkie, where did that tomato come from, and why should I be afraid of that chocolate? To offer an overview of it all is daunting.\u00a0Suffice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1581,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[247,273],"tags":[280,281,282,283,284,285],"class_list":["post-792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chizblog","category-green","tag-eat-local","tag-fair-trade","tag-local-food","tag-organic","tag-pop-tarts","tag-processed-food"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2008\/10\/veggie.jpg?fit=448%2C299&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":823,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/year-of-the-potato-for-corn-eaters\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":0},"title":"Year of the Potato \u2013 For Corn Eaters","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2008 May 5","format":false,"excerpt":"I just found out today\u2014please don\u2019t ask me how\u2014that 2008 is the International Year of the Potato.\u00a0\u00a0That\u2019s IYP, for those of you who are on the inside track. Who knew such amazing facts as 1\/3 of all the world\u2019s potatoes are grown in China and India, that Dan Quayle still\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/maxresdefault.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2404,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/american-original-sin-pc-monster\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":1},"title":"American Original Sin: Sesame Street’s PC Monster","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2020 Mar 29","format":false,"excerpt":"Our goal as a consumer society is to eat, eat, and eat. The chocolate chip cookie has ever been, therefore, that perfect product of American consumerism.","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/03\/c-coronary.jpg?fit=400%2C264&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":791,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/the-main-ingredient\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":2},"title":"The Main Ingredient","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2011 Jan 21","format":false,"excerpt":"I watched the couple in Kroger last week as they moved down one of the over-processed center aisles. \"Look!' exclaimed the woman all too loudly as she picked up the bright yellow box of Kroger's Frosted Fudge Toaster Treats. \"These look good!\" She dutifully glanced over the nutrition label and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/04\/013011_0446_TheMainIngr2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":807,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/feeling-chinas-lead\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":3},"title":"Feeling China\u2019s Lead","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2007 Oct 13","format":false,"excerpt":"Last Sunday I heard the women in the restaurant booth next to mine complain about toys from China.\u00a0\u00a0One, in particular, was loud and vehement in her opinions.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m going to buy American from now on!\u201d she practically yelled. \u201cChina should just leave us alone!\u201d And no, I didn\u2019t set down my\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/04\/dora.jpg?fit=597%2C417&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/04\/dora.jpg?fit=597%2C417&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/04\/dora.jpg?fit=597%2C417&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":816,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/bad-economics-oil-and-schools\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":4},"title":"Bad Economics: Oil and Schools","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2008 Jan 10","format":false,"excerpt":"This past weekend, oil prices hit $100 per barrel.\u00a0\u00a0Undoubtedly, gasoline prices will rise again, too, and the Democratic candidates responded at\u00a0Saturday\u2019s New Hampshire debates by warning of recession.\u00a0\u00a0Even so, the major oil producers of the world don\u2019t seem worried:\u00a0\u00a0$100 isn\u2019t high,\u00a0according to OPEC.\u00a0\u00a0They cite increased manufacturing costs and labor costs\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2008\/01\/West_Texas_Pumpjack.jpg?fit=399%2C299&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2063,"url":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/zzsg-ch-1-identification\/","url_meta":{"origin":792,"position":5},"title":"Zack’s Zombie Survival Guide: Ch. 1 – Identification","author":"Steve Chisnell","date":"2021 May 1","format":false,"excerpt":"I hate zombies (and consequently love the films) because I dread becoming one, living, dead, or undead. Is there a worse fate than the loss of mind? Zombies speak directly to that too-real possibility.","rel":"","context":"In "ChizBlog"","block_context":{"text":"ChizBlog","link":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/category\/chizblog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/08\/zombie-hands.jpg?fit=604%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/08\/zombie-hands.jpg?fit=604%2C391&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2017\/08\/zombie-hands.jpg?fit=604%2C391&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1536,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792\/revisions\/1536"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chisnell.com\/chizblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}