Buy Local. Eat Local. Grow your own. You’ve probably heard these phrases in restaurants, family-owned grocery stores and on celebrity chef TV shows. You may start to hear even more about this trend from your child: These days, the “eat local” mindset is making its way into Ontario classrooms and beyond.
With so many high-quality fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and soy products grown right here in Ontario, parents and families are now realizing how vitally important “buying local” really is. “The trend [toward Westerners choosing to eat more local foods] is not insignificant or fleeting…increased knowledge on climate change and food miles illustrates the challenges of eating more locally but also the general public’s desire to know more,” says Jennifer Story, Program Manager for the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation.“There's really no logic to Ontarians eating carrots from California,” she adds.
Decreasing our carbon footprint is one of the most important reasons to buy local. Simply put, buying local reduces the amount of pollution that would otherwise be produced from shipping products long distances. Where we shop, how we travel, what we buy, how often we recycle, and what we eat all make a difference to the earth. Carbon footprint calculators are available for those interested in personal (and family) estimates. These calculators illustrate the amount of greenhouse gases we use in our day-to-day lives.
Of course, there are other benefits to buying and eating locally. “[Buying Ontario foods] supports local farmers and thereby supports the protection of the Greenbelt and other important agriculture lands…” says Lea Ann Mallett, Executive Director for EcoSource, a charitable organization which supports local foods. Other benefits of eating and buying local include:
· Increased health and nutrition from eating fresher fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats and soy products;
· Boosting local economies both directly and indirectly;



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