We All Eat: Think Globally Eat Locally

Ways to Support Sustainable Agriculture in North America

We all need to eat in order to live. The foods you choose to eat can help support sustainable agriculture in your region.

Because large-scale industrial agriculture is currently the predominant model in the United States, it’s not always easy to find sustainably grown food. But you can help support the shift to more sustainable agriculture by seeking to buy at least one or more food items that are organic, local, and from a family farm. Below is more information about different types of sustainable food and where to find them.

Organic Foods

Organic Foods are grown using methods that seek to replicate the ecology of the natural environment by maintaining biodiversity and fostering healthy soil and growing conditions. For example, organic foods do not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides that negatively affect biodiversity.

Organic farming is actually not a new practice. Human beings have been farming without synthetic or chemical fertilizers or pesticides for millennia. The heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides was first widely introduced around WWII. Eventually farmers around the world saw the negative impacts of this type of industrialized farming, and began to study and develop methods that increased the long-term productivity of their farms. Many refer to the renewal of this traditional farming practice as "organic."

Seasonal Foods

Although today's global marketplace allows us to buy foods grown virtually anywhere in the world all year round, these options are not the most sustainable.

By purchasing local foods in-season, you eliminate the environmental damage caused by shipping foods thousands of miles, your food dollar goes to local farmers and you enjoy the healthy benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables.

Locally Grown Food

There are many benefits to locally grown food including...

- Buying locally grown food helps to stimulate regional economies by supporting farmers in your area.

- Locally grown food uses fewer fossil fuels because significantly less energy is used for transportation and refrigeration.

- Fresh food just harvested tastes better than food that has been prematurely picked, frozen and shipped thousands of miles.

Farmers markets selling local and regionally grown food can be found in cities all across the U.S.

Eat Well Guide

Sustainable foods can be found in your community by purchasing organic and/or locally grown produce and products. It's easy to find farmers markets, restaurants and more with the user-friendly Eat Well Guide. Simply type in your zip code to find out what's near you.

Ask Your Local Grocer to Carry More Sustainable Food

If you shop in a chain supermarket and prefer not to change where you buy food, look to see if any of the fruits and vegetables sold in your store are organic or from local farms. If your store doesn’t carry this kind of food, ask the store manager to begin carrying local and or organic food.

Remember...We All Eat: Think Globally Eat Locally.