Invention of locavorism
The Invention of “Locavorism”:
An analysis of the local food movement
There are growing concerns with the world’s current food system. Many argue the products we consume are mal nutritious, unsafe, and ethically irresponsible, along with having an astronomical impact on the environment. The newly formed fad of locavorism claims to have a solution to the world’s problems. A locavore is an individual who believes in eating only food grown and produced locally or within a certain distance of their home. On its surface the local food movement appears to hold some merit, but upon further research we find some major discrepancies with their claims. Numerous scholarly articles contribute to my position that, locavorism is not a solution; in fact it is quite the opposite. This essay will acknowledge and discuss the ineffectiveness of locavorism, along with the delusion that buying food locally can solve the world’s problems.
The local food movement has become popular over the last two decades with upper middle class Americans. Locavores believe that buying locally produced food; stimulates the local economy, is more nutritious and economically feasible. Locavorism advocates stress that you should “pursue a different relationship with your food by getting to know the farm where your food comes from and the farmer who grows or raises it” (Rudy 27). Much of the ideas behind locavorism are more philosophical than realistic. There are a number of factors and situations that locavores choose to ignore when praising their “modern” lifestyle. Locavore enthusiasts who live in a cooler climate will not have access to fresh produce for more than half the year. Not to mention the lack of variety due to climate constraints. Sure you can freeze food for the winter months but this decreases nutrition and taste. Maragret Wente of The Globe and Mail, comments from personal experience that much of what you save will be thrown away concluding, “And that’s what’s wrong with locavorism.
An analysis of the local food movement
There are growing concerns with the world’s current food system. Many argue the products we consume are mal nutritious, unsafe, and ethically irresponsible, along with having an astronomical impact on the environment. The newly formed fad of locavorism claims to have a solution to the world’s problems. A locavore is an individual who believes in eating only food grown and produced locally or within a certain distance of their home. On its surface the local food movement appears to hold some merit, but upon further research we find some major discrepancies with their claims. Numerous scholarly articles contribute to my position that, locavorism is not a solution; in fact it is quite the opposite. This essay will acknowledge and discuss the ineffectiveness of locavorism, along with the delusion that buying food locally can solve the world’s problems.
The local food movement has become popular over the last two decades with upper middle class Americans. Locavores believe that buying locally produced food; stimulates the local economy, is more nutritious and economically feasible. Locavorism advocates stress that you should “pursue a different relationship with your food by getting to know the farm where your food comes from and the farmer who grows or raises it” (Rudy 27). Much of the ideas behind locavorism are more philosophical than realistic. There are a number of factors and situations that locavores choose to ignore when praising their “modern” lifestyle. Locavore enthusiasts who live in a cooler climate will not have access to fresh produce for more than half the year. Not to mention the lack of variety due to climate constraints. Sure you can freeze food for the winter months but this decreases nutrition and taste. Maragret Wente of The Globe and Mail, comments from personal experience that much of what you save will be thrown away concluding, “And that’s what’s wrong with locavorism.