Locavore Movement Essay

For a community, the opportunity to provide alternative food sources, that are healthier for both its inhabitants and the environment, is invaluable. The locavore movement, which involves only consuming locally produced food, seems to do all this and more. However, this is only at first glance. The health, environmental and economic benefits of only eating locally all appear infallible on the surface, but when they are inspected closely they become almost inconsequential.
To most people, the most appealing factor about the locavore movement is its various health benefits. Locally grown food is at its peak in both nutritional value and quality because it did not have to go through the stress of long distance travel. Consuming locally grown food also lessens instances of bioterrorism where food is exposed to harmful contamination during its travels (Source A). Not to mention, locally grown produce are able to take their natural time to ripen. This means that we are
At first glance, the locavore movement seems to be an advantage in the world's quest to "go green". Research has shown that organic products that are imported from long distances have been found to create environmental damage (Source A), while the shorter distance that locally grown food travels will lead to less greenhouse gasses (that cause global warming) being released . However, other research has shown that the majority of greenhouse gasses associated with food consumption in the U.S. are released during the production of the food. In fact less than one fourth of the climatic impact that food consumption has on the earth comes from transportation (Source D). These findings make the environmental advantages of eating locally a moot point. Not to mention, we must take into account the increase in water usage , fertilizer types and processing methods (Source C) that would be occurring locally if the locavore movement