Because the semester is coming to a close, this will unfortunately be my last blog on my work researching local food. So this blog will be a summary of the work I have done this semester and what I plan to do in the future to continue spreading the word about eating locally.

But, before we get to that, I just wanted to mention that in a recent episode of Bravo's Top Chef, contestants were challenged to create dishes using only food grown locally in California. True, this didn't necessarily reduce their options much, as California is a main agricultural state in the U.S. However, it is great to see this emphasis on such a popular show - further proof that more and more are jumping on the local bandwagon, and that eating locally can be delicious!

Ok, now back to the serious stuff. This past semester I have investigated the local food movement through my research. My research has had three main aspects. First, I have been reading literature to learn the facts about local food. I wanted to answer question such as: is it really better for the environment? Is it truly healthier and more nutritive? Is it better for local economies? In my research, I found the answers to these questions were overwhelmingly, "yes."

However, there are still real questions to be addressed in terms of turning local food into a larger movement. For example, are there enough resources within 100 miles of major cities to feed such large populations? The answer as of now is probably "no." However, urban farming represents a real future possibility for utilizing more space in urban environments for food production. Check out my fellow classmates' blog to learn more about urban farming. However, to a certain extent, this is a moot issue at this point - we are so far below the threshold of maxing out our local food resources. As of now, there will be local food waiting for you should you decide to switch, and you and the environment will be healthier as a result.

Second, I wanted to get a sense of how and why people make local food a part of their lives. I spoke with experts such as Dr. Sterling about how local food can play a role in biodiversity and community. By visiting a local farm I saw firsthand how food is produced and learned how farmers are playing an active role in bringing their food to their communities through community-supported agriculture programs. I also gained an appreciation for the creativity and dedication of farmers who not only emphasize community agriculture, but also sustainable, organic farming practices. By eating locally grown produce myself, I was able to appreciate both the benefits and challenges that come with the lifestyle change of switching to local food.

These challenges inspired me to take on the third major aspect of my project - working at Wholesale Greenmarket. If we want more people to switch to local food, we need to increase the convenience of eating locally. I can tell you from experience, it can be limiting at times. By bringing local food to restaurants and grocery stores, we will enable more people to eat locally, allowing them to experience the benefits for their body and for the environment firsthand. My interest in the local food movement remains, and I plan to continue my work at Wholesale Greenmarket next semester. I also plan to continue going to the local farmer's market to buy as many of my groceries as possible.

So goodbye for now!  Try going local, in whatever way you can - I know from firsthand experience that you won't regret it!