An excellent article about how local food is not really local food. The article points out that many local foods are actually sourced far far away and consumers may being duped for paying a premium and not really helping out the environment or the local community.

Personally, I agree with the local food movement. Things have become overly global and people who consume do not pay the cost. In case of shrimp, the environmental destruction cost is charged to the local people near the shrimp farms not the people eating at Red Lobster. In such sense, it is much better to produce things locally to match the benefit and the cost and minimize negative externalities. Also, local production results in jobs and income, which is good for the community.

However, there is no way that we can produce everything or most things in our communities unless we want to give up a lot of things that we take for  granted. Most people will have to not consume tropical fruits and a lot of fish will be off the menu. This would definitely not increase the people’s well-being. So what can be done?

One way would be to be less extreme and enjoy globalization and engage in sustainable consumption. One can start with not consuming things that are clearly not sustainable.

Another way would be to change one’s consumption. After all, things can be substituted and humans adapt quite quickly.

Finally, for certain vegetables, they may be grown by advanced farming techniques. Many hydroponic farms grow all kind of vegetables all year around. This alternative would create jobs and help the local economy as long as the farming cost is not prohibited.

Local food movement is here to stay and we can do a better job 😀