Is Our Local Food Really Local

You shop local, think local and eat local. But is it enough? Believe it or not there’s yet another level to be concerned with when it comes to what we put in our bodies. While most of what is purchased at farmer’s markets or specialty shops is surely local, made with care, concern and a commitment to correct labeling, there are those few bad eggs that have to go and ruin it for the rest. Ruining it to the point where EcoRI is doing something about it. On May 18, they’re hosting the inaugural Happy Hour Speaker Series: The Dark Side of Local Food with a panel of experts.

The panel will address questions ranging from how consumers can know what they’re buying is truly local, how to define local food and is local food better for the environment to who is left out if local food isn’t affordable. A few examples of questionable items are honey and corn. EcoRI News co-founder and Executive Director Joanna Detz explains that, “In our reporting, we’ve uncovered that some local honey isn’t really local. Some honey producers repackage honey from as far away as North Dakota or even Argentina and Brazil and pass it off as local.

GMO’s are also of concern. “Consumers concerned about GMO’s may be getting GMO corn when they shop at a farmer’s market. This GMO corn reduces the need for spraying pesticides because of an insect-killing protein produced in the kernels,” Joanna says. As to what we as consumers can do, just ask a lot of questions. She recommends talking to farmers and asking what farming methods they use. Ask what your farmer’s market manager does in order to ensure that farmers are actually selling what they say they are selling. Also, know your growing season. If you see “local” farmer’s market strawberries in September, chances are, they’re not local. May 18. 5:30-8pm. Tickets are $5 for students, $10 general admission. 115 Empire Street.