Why buy Local?

I was sitting here thinking of something that I could write about. Sometimes nothing comes, that is when the blog gets neglected for a few days. Today nothing is hitting me that really needs to be said.

I am thinking about the question, though, that pops up from time to time. What is the reason we want to support local agriculture? Weather you're a farmer yourself or a concerned consumer, what drives your passion for local food? Answer to these, honestly, are myriad. Maybe I can offer a few thoughts as to what it is that drives us.

A few years ago, and ever scince then, my wife was turned on to Sally Fallon and her book "Nurishing Traditions". In it, she proposes the need for fresh food, whole, raw milk, polyunsaturated fats, omega 3's and a bunch of other things. My wife is the one who feeds us and therefore she took great interest in proper nutrition, because she loves her family and wants the best for us.

A few months ago I got quite ill. With what, I don't know. But it was as sick as I've ever been. During this time, I sat and watched a video lecture given by Sally Fallon. This is also the time that I was reading the book "The Meat You Eat" written by Ken Midkiff. However, between these two things, my whole paradigm was changed. Until then, I was of the opinion that we were eating healthy and that was my wife's responsability. Now, I had to think about our responsability, as farmers (however small) to work toward providing this nutrition ourselves. It became apparent that it is getting more and more difficult to acquire these things from the local store. The big agribusinesses are destroying our food supply for the sake of profits. Now it was personal and became passionate.

So, for starters, buying local or raising it yourself give the personal touch. Especially if you buy it. You know where the food comes from, how it was raised, how it was treated and if any chemicals were used.

As the farmer, there is the opportunity to build relationships with your customers, get to know them. With this relationship, you will build loyalty that will keep them coming back. You can support other farmers that even do the same thing. If you end up with a product shortfall, you can feel comfortable sending them to another farmer, knowing that they are striving for the same quality. Real food that is fit to eat, as Joel Salatin would say. There is also a great deal of satisfaction in helping people get this food fit to eat. Your family is eating better and so is your community. God did not design food to be poked, prodded, shocked, beaten, twisted, processed and stuffed. (I think you know what I mean.)

Honesty and intergrity are built. I can feel good that I gave my customers food that I did my best in raising in a healthy way and I didn't have to disguise the ingredients with words that are not pronounceable. They know what's in there. If I tell people that our birds were raised on pasture, they can believe that the birds spent their happy little lives under the sun eating grass. They can trust me.

Like I said, there are myriad reasons for people to buy local. These are a few of my thoughts. Feel free to share with us your thoughts. What drives you to buy local, good food that is fit to eat? Let us know, it may help us to serve others better.

You can drop us a line at sppowers@iglide.net or post a comment here. Thanks for reading. Until next time....