Eating Locally Grown Foods Is a Greener Way to Go

To The Editor:
Choosing locally-grown food is a greener way to eat. Almost everyone remembers a time in their lives when Mom said, “Don’t put that in your mouth, you don’t know where it’s been.” Today, produce makes it’s way to our supermarkets from almost all over the world, regardless of the season, ultimately landing on our plates without much information about “where its been?”
On average, fresh produce travels well over 1,000 miles to get to our local supermarkets. There are some important economic and environmental rea-sons why we should consider eating more locally grown goods.
Transporting food over long distances consumes a lot of fuel and in the process, generates air pollution and greenhouse gases that cause global warming. While in transit, there’s often some form of packag-ing and refrigeration involved, adding even more to the carbon footprint of the food we eat. And it adds to the cost.
Eating locally grown foods is a greener way to go and it also helps to keep agriculture viable in New Jersey, so less open space is lost to development. According to the Association of New Jersey Envi-ronmental Commissions, agricultural lands provide important environmental benefits by replenishing underground aquifers through infiltration of rain-water and by providing wildlife habitat. Unlike large agribusinesses, smaller local farmers tend to grow a greater diversity of crops, rotating them to prevent depletion of the soil. Healthier soil reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers to ensure a good crop yield, so fewer chemicals run off into streams and rivers and aquifers. Locally grown food tends to be fresher when it reaches the table. It tastes better and retains more of its nutrition l value than crops picked while they’re still green and then shipped long dis-tances.
Many residents have their own gardens but not everyone has the time, skills or acreage to grow their own food. More supermarkets are offering locally grown items and many community farmers markets, roadside produce stands and pick-your-own farms are within easy driving distance. (A list of locations sell-ing New Jersey-grown produce can be found on the N. J. Department of Agriculture Jersey Fresh Website at wwwjerseyfresh.rij.gcrer)
We’re lucky to live in a state that produces some of the best tasting tomatoes, corn, blueberries, and cranberries in the world. But they have a lot more to offer, from beans, broccoli and squash to apples and peaches, fresh eggs and dairy products. We can be kind to our taste buds while preserving our local farmlands and open space.
VILMA POMBO
Court House
(ED. NOTE: Pombo is a member of the Middle Township Environmental Commission,)