Most of us have experienced walking through the aisles of Whole Foods and thinking “wow, $5 for a little box of mushrooms…”. I am one of those people who swing into the big grocery stores to pick up a few things, or everything. But after some recent research on where my money is going… you better guarantee I’m making some big changes.
When talking about environmental issues we hear about polluted waters, melting ice caps, our land being degraded. We point our fingers at the land developers, oil riggers, and coal companies, but what about us who buy what they sell?
Urbanites (us city folk) are much more separated from the farm to table relationship and we need acts of restoration for our day-to-day relationship with the world. What can we do?
Eco Friendly Solution
SHOP LOCAL: Instead of going for the easy giant grocery store, consider supporting your community's local market. See if they sell organic produce and meat. If the only grocery store near you is a franchise, check their products and see if any of them are from local farms (200 mile radius). Consider joining a co-op, CSA, or embarking on a farmers market adventure.
SHOP SEASONAL: Check when your favorite fruits and veggies are in season and what produce grows within your 200 mile radius.
SUPPORT GREEN BUSINESS: We can reciprocate to the environment by choosing to support and spend our money in an eco-friendly way. If you are low-income, maybe shop organic local once a week or even starting once a month. If you have more money, support more green initiatives to counteract the bad companies. Us who can afford to shell out an overcharged price by 30% (looking at you Whole Foods) can help drive the market in the right direction by changing our habits and shop at co-ops, CSA, and stores that support local farmers. Because let’s face it… who can and who cannot afford Whole Foods is just the tip of the iceberg for the inequity of access to sustainability resourced nutritional food.
Let’s all take action through small steps so you may hold your head high when you venture to the mountains and know that you did your part in the city.
Find your CSA or Farmers Market
CSA America Locator
America Farmers Market Locator
New York CSA’s
Brooklyn Farmers Market
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