Which came first? The chicken or the egg?
What if I told you it was both and they're in ready supply?
We (and I include myself in this most assuredly) are often guilty of thinking that as consumers looking for fresh, local foods, we are lacking. Here in Southeast Georgia, we live in giant food deserts, surrounded by chemically-grown commodity crops with no sustainable foods in sight.
And there is some merit to this.
HOWEVER, I'm going to suggest that as things stand right now, we have a greater supply of healthy, sustainable and/or regenerative, beyond organic, organic, and/or hydroponically grown produce than we are currently buying. There are more pastured meats, eggs and dairy products being produced within 75 miles of us than what is ending up on our plates.
I'm suggesting this is true because I speak quite regularly with farmers and growers who NEED more customers. I've yet to have a conversation with one of our local growers who has said to me - I can't possibly take on one more customer. I'm at capacity for what I can produce and everything I'm currently producing is already being bought by regular customers.
I don't have conversations like that.
We bemoan the idea that we're losing farmers … but we don't support the ones we have! We complain about costs, but fail to see the price we're paying everyday in a thousand ways to make the way for "cheap" foods.
We don't have a supply problem. We have a demand problem.
And the good news is, as consumers we can fix that problem! If you already buy from your local farms, thank you! If you don't, please start!
I'm not suggesting that you eat 100% local. But I am suggesting that you can start somewhere. Pick a product … eggs, honey, milk, lettuce … start with something… and buy it consistently from a local producer.
Here's what that looked like for me.
My priority when starting out with local food was meat. I wanted to completely stop supporting the "traditional" meat industry in this country.
I couldn't afford at that time to completely purchase all of my meat from local farms, so I started with pork. That was my priority because of all the animals within the factory-farmed meat industry, in my opinion, the pig suffers the most. So, that's where I started. Pasture raised pork. As I was able, I added more and more items to my "shop local" list.
So, my fellow consumers, here's what I'm asking of you today.
If you haven't already, start today!
Start with one product… or one hundred if you can!
Meet the person growing or producing it. Get invested in their success!
Know your WHY! Understand why it matters, in general and to you specifically, to source your food from people who are treating the land and the animals with care and respect. Your reasons might look different from mine. There are hundreds to choose from including: health, economy, ecology, ethics, justice, faith, politics … the list goes on.
Connect with others who share your values! We're here. This is a community of people who understand why local food matters.
If you don't know where to shop or how to find local food near you, wherever you are, ask me! I am always willing to help you find a farm near you that is worthy of your support.
LeeAnna Tatum, consumer of local foods / Founder and Publisher of Southern Soil