Why eat local?

First and foremost, the aim of this article is not to guilt-trip you. Not everyone can afford to buy better quality food or have the time to plan and source food from several places instead of one supermarket. That is completely ok!

But if you want to start consuming more local products, here are a few arguments.

Fresher products with fewer nasties

Since the products don't have to travel very far if they're consumed locally, there is no need for preservatives. There is also a higher chance that products will not be frozen.

While there is still some debate on whether fresh fruits & vegetables from the supermarket are more nutritious than frozen ones, there is no doubt that the best product is the one you source from the farm or your own garden. It will be at its peak ripeness when you take it home, just next door!

The point is, the closer to the tree, the better.

You know where it comes from

Ethical labour and animal rights have been hot topics these past years.

In 2020, the alarm was raised on Moroccan migrants forced to pick strawberries in Spain during the begnning of the Covid-19 pandemic with no basic hygiene or safety measures. Knowing that the UK is the second destination for Spanish strawberries exports, you might want to know in what conditions your food was produced.

Similarly with animals, if you eat meat or dairy products, you might want to know how the animal has been treated.

When food is local, it is easier to trace it.

Caring for the climate

Eating food coming from far away means that these products will need to travel. And usually this travel implies that there will be some carbon emissions.

It's true that transport is not the biggest part of the food product's carbon footprint, but it can still make a difference.

But mostv importantly, remember that when you consume local, or even grow your own food, you are doing it for yourself, on your own terms, and not for others!

Have a lovely day! :)