LOCALLY GROWN FOOD & THE ENVIRONMENT

LOCALLY GROWN FOOD & THE ENVIRONMENT - by Roy Chatalbash

There are often hidden costs to the many purchases we make that have an impact on our environment. For example, to provide certain fruits and vegetables year-round means it is necessary to transport produce from far-away places such as Chile or Thailand The planes, trains and cargo ships that deliver these goods generate carbon dioxide that is largely responsible for global warming. This is the hidden cost of our purchases.

At Weston Climate Group, we suggest buying your produce locally, whenever possible. We are blessed with a vibrant market right here in Weston – Land’s Sake. Check out their website for details at www.landssake.org. Another local option is a farmer’s market. Check out www.mass.gov/agr/massgrown/farmers_markets.htm for locations. Both Omni and Wholefoods markets offer locally grown food in season – they are labeled as such. In buying your produce from local sources, you will be doing your part to diminish the demand for shipping food thousands of miles, and in turn, reducing CO2 emissions. More specifically, you would be recognizing the hidden cost of your purchases and claiming a deeper responsibility for them.

Submitted by Roy Chatalbash, Weston Climate Group. We thank The Weston Town Crier for printing this article)