Do you know where your food comes from?
Do you know where the broccoli on your table comes from? If the answer is “the grocery store” maybe it’s time to discover a little more about how, and where your food is grown and produced. Most of us take food for granted. We have been conditioned to know that the food we want will be available where we expect it, and when we want it. Whether at a restaurant, or on grocery store shelves, we depend on our food systems to deliver to our needs. The pandemic not only changed the way we interact socially but also shed a light on just how vulnerable some of our food systems are.
I vividly remember going into the grocery store at the end of March 2020 and seeing bare shelves. Dairy cases, meat cases, pasta, rice and baking aisles looked very different. The experience was novel for many people. It took a while for things to start looking “normal” again. Many of us have never experienced this, a desire or need to buy certain food items but being unable to. For most of us this was a transient experience as store shelves are mostly full again. Unfortunately, there are many people, in this country, and across the world, who experience this gap in access to food every day.
Food systems are vulnerable
That day in March I took a picture of an empty meat case and texted it to my sisters with a caption of “bringing back memories from our childhood”. I grew up in Poland, before the Berlin Wall came down (dating myself a little), and empty store shelves were the norm. What was also the norm was the need to get the stuff you needed from somewhere other than the store.
We bought milk from a dairy farm. Meat was bought from farmers (often an entire animal at a time) and processed and preserved at home. Hardy vegetables were bought in bulk and stored in cold storage for the winter, seasonal fruit and vegetables were prepared and preserved for the rest of the year. We did not eat exotic fruit, like bananas. Oranges were a very special treat for Christmas, if we got lucky, and someone snagged some somewhere (I did not ask where as a child).
Why do I share this? To highlight that there are many differences and disparities in food systems and access to food around the world. My childhood story is one example of a local food supply system that is still in place, and working in many places around the world. The food system we are used to here in the US is global. It provides us with access to food from around the world but it also has many weaknesses. When it works, we get to enjoy bananas in the Northeast every day of the year. When it does not, we cannot buy eggs, even though there are hundreds of poultry and egg farms in the area.
Food insecurity can affect anyone
That brief moment in spring of 2020 also led some people to experience, for the first time, what food insecurity feels like. We had the desire but the food we wanted was not available. Over 2 billion people around the world do not have regular access to safe and nutritious food. Despite the fact that the world food production is more than enough to feed everyone, many people cannot access that food because it’s not available in their area or they do not have the resources to obtain it (among other factors).
October 16th is World Food Day. Started by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 75 years ago, its goal is to bring awareness to food insecurity, and change food systems so that safe and nutritious food is available to everyone. You can read more about the great work being done and the organization by visiting http://www.fao.org/world-food-day/home/en . The shortages in basic supplies and food during the early days of the pandemic illustrated just how quickly we can all be impacted by disruptions in the food system. I know it can be overwhelming when we think about “fixing world problems,” but there are things we can do to make a difference without huge sacrifices.
Choose local when you can
Local food production is better for the environment, our diets, health and wallet. Locally grown food is often more nutritious, tastier and has a lower impact on the environment because it travels a lot less. It is also often cheaper because reduced travel often means lower costs to farmers and distributors.
Choose seasonal foods
Eating seasonal foods goes hand in hand with eating local. Eating foods that grow well and thrive in your area naturally creates more sustainable systems and is better for the environment. Growing foods out of season (say tomatoes in the fall or early spring) often requires extraordinary measures (heated greenhouses as an example) that may not be sustainable. Seasonal foods also add natural variety to your diet as the seasons change. Of course, you can naturally extend the seasons by storing and preserving some bounty. (Winter squash, potatoes, apples do well in cold storage. Less hardy produce, can be canned, frozen or pickled to extend their use.)
Choose healthy and diverse food options
When we buy more diverse foods those foods become more widely available. When you choose healthy options, and local foods, you help ensure that those foods continue to be available. You save money and reduce the environmental impact of food transport. Your actions also ensure that food diversity is preserved for future generations.
Grow food at home
You do not have to move to the country or buy a farm to grow food at home. Almost anyone can grow herbs at home (even in an apartment) as many thrive in pots. Many vegetables and even some fruits can be grown in containers. Growing some edible plants is a great activity for kids. A simple pot, soil, and seeds provide opportunities to learn science and the joy of watching plants grow.
Respect food and food heroes
Food waste creates a tremendous burden on our resources and the planet. It also wastes money. You can respect our food resources, environment and the many people that make food possible for us by minimizing food waste. Plan your menu and buy what you need. Reimagine leftovers into new meals. Preserve extra food by freezing, canning, fermenting and so on.
Support food related businesses and retailers
Learn more about your local food economy and get to know the people who make it happen by visiting farmers markets, farm stands, signing up for a CSA or pick-your own locations. Many local businesses partner with local farmers to offer their goods as well so consider choosing those local options. Supporting local businesses ensures that local food producers and distributors thrive, making our food systems more secure.
Join initiatives that fight food insecurity
Even in affluent areas plenty of people experience hunger and food insecurity. You can help make a difference by volunteering your time. Food banks, food cooperatives and community kitchens are always in need of help. Community gardens allow people to learn how to grow food while supporting local communities. Whether you have culinary skills, a green thumb or just energy to spare, share your gifts.
Support the development of new programs
Learn about local and global programs that fight food insecurity, hunger, and support your local economy. Whether its school meals, education support, community gardens or farms, many community programs have an impact on food access. They need your vocal and hands on support to thrive.
Influence positive will
Finally, the more people are aware of the vulnerabilities of our food systems the higher the odds that we can make positive changes. We can all be “influencers” in support of healthy, safe and nutritious food.
It does not take extraordinary efforts to help support robust local food systems while reaping the benefits for your health and wallet. The FAO premise is simple “Grow. Nourish. Sustain. Together. Our actions are our future”. We can choose our actions to ensure safe and nutritious food is available to everyone for years to come. Even better, taking some time to learn about your food supply may have your confidently answering the question “Do you know where your broccoli came from?” with “Oxen Hill Farm in East Granby CT grown sustainably and certified organic”. Who knows, next year you may even discuss the weather and soil conditions needed for a successful broccoli crop.
Visit a farm. Enjoy the fall crops and remember that pumpkins not only make great decorations but awesome soups, pancakes, muffins and deserts. Save the really big ones for carving and buy some sugar pumpkins for your culinary experiments.
Ready to bring food enjoyment back into your life? Pick up a copy of my book and see how easy it is to eat deliciously, sustainably and healthy without giving up joy. You owe it to yourself!
There are many ways to enjoy eating healthy my programs help you discover the ones that fit your life. Check out the currently available programs and deals on the Programs and Services tab. You can also preview course content and register on my online school dashboard.