Eating Local in Seattle - Why and How?

The locavore movement is the practice of eating locally produced food with the idea of local ranging from about 50 to 200 miles from the consumer, and it is becoming increasingly popular. But why bother eating local when we are surrounded by conveniently located grocery stores and mini marts stocked with a variety of our favorite foods? Eating local has numerous benefits for the consumer and their community. First, supporting local farmers and businesses benefits the local economy. Secondly, buying from local producers also reduces your carbon footprint. According to CUESA, the average American meal travels 1500 miles before consumed. These large distances that food moves damage the environment through increased carbon emissions. Finally, eating local is delicious – it brings fresher, tastier produce to your plate.

So eating local increases sustainability, supports the local community and economy, and it tastes better! But is it plausible? In truth, it can be a difficult diet to follow. The ease of shopping at grocery stores is a hard convenience to give up, but there are ways to buy local in a convenient manner. Some grocery stores, like Whole Foods or PCC, try to feature local products when possible. CSA’s (Community Supported Agricultre) are an amazing way to easily get local produce delivered to your door. For more information and a list of CSA's in the Seattle area, check out Fresh-Picked Seattle. There are also several farmers markets scattered across Seattle’s various neighborhoods. Price is another factor in the reality of eating local. Personally, I’ve found that produce is relatively inexpensive, but finding processed foods (chips, cereal, etc) can be pricy when compared to their non-local counterparts. Eating out can also be a challenge, while there are Seattle restaurants that feature local foods, they are few in number, and some (not all) are rather expesive, for example Tilth.

Supporting local farmers and producers is important, but not always easy to do. Personally and realistically, the convenience, cost, and variety of products available by not eating local outweigh the benefits of trying to eating completely local. However, I try to incorporate local foods into my life when possible and I encourage others to do the same. Trying the Eat Local Challenge is a great way to get involved and learn more about your own local food system.