As summer turns into fall, I wanted to draw a deeper connection between where our food comes from and its impact on our health, environment, and the economy.
Health
The term “food as medicine” is becoming a central theme among healthcare physicians–particularly those in the functional and integrative medicine space–where food is not only an aid or supplement to healthy living, but plays a central role in health.
Our conventional food system has made it possible to buy produce at any time of the year, but have you ever stopped to wonder about the implications and the nutrient value of out-of-season products? Produce can be grown up to thousands of miles away from grocery store destinations and is therefore harvested before they are ripe to save it from spoiling.
Shortening the distance between farm and table creates more of a connection to the land and trust in the farmer. It allows fresh produce to reach peak ripeness before it’s harvested, with many farmers collecting the goods the day of a farmers’ market or farm delivery. This shortened distance reduces the dependency on large food systems, has richer flavor and nutrients, fresher, and overall tastes better!
For meat products, many consumers are unaware of the farm they’re getting their meat from when they purchase it at the grocery store. There is no knowledge or connection to how the animals were cared for and how they were treated. Buying local meat means you know the conditions of the farm and how the animals are being raised; plus, local farmers are passionate about how they farm and want to answer these types of questions!
Environment
Conventional and factory farming have been under scrutiny for some time because of poor animal care, use of heavy synthetics and pesticides, environmental degradation, and unsustainable farming techniques. Regenerative agriculture challenges conventional ideas about land use, animal care, and soil management by farming in a sustainable way that actually helps heal and nourish the planet.
Regenerative agriculture’s cornerstone, being the health of the planet and us, begins with the health of the soil. Soil is one of Earth’s greatest carbon sinks due to photosynthesis, and it can help make farmlands more resilient against extreme weather patterns through greater water retention, increased biodiversity, and sustained ecosystems.
The closer the products are grown from the farm to market or customer, the less transportation-related carbon emissions are emitted, and energy-intensive storage like refrigeration is required to keep the high amounts of produce and goods “fresh.” Mass production of food raises concern for how much is wasted globally and its environmental impact.
A staggering ⅕ of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally–equaling about one billion meals per day. Buying locally also involves less plastic wrapping and limits other unnecessary packaging that is commonly found at grocery stores.
When you support local–especially regenerative–farms, you support the movement towards sustainable farming practices that help protect and restore the planet.
Economy
Small farmers do not get the subsidies that large factory farms do, and that is evident from the prices you see at the grocery stores. The meat being sold at grocers is lower than the meat at Chucktown Acres, as well as other small farms, because they do not receive the monetary support that governmental agricultural subsidies provide. When you buy from a local farmer, more of that money goes directly to the ones raising the animals rather than being distributed through a supply chain that involves middlemen, processors, and distributors.
Buying locally supports the farmers who take part in changing the language around farming through better treatment of the animals by raising them in pasture, sustainable farming techniques, and not using harmful hormones, antibiotics, and other additives.
Choose Local
Choosing local and regenerative products is not only an investment in your health, but it also gives back to the community, you know where your food is coming from, and it supports sustainable farming practices and the environment.
Chucktown Acres values trust and transparency. They welcome the opportunity to talk about how their regenerative farming practices help heal your body and the planet. They want to build a community and offer connections around the food they put on your table.
This is why Farmer Alex’s mantra is: “Know your farmer, know your food.”
