Talking to a farmer at the market yesterday made me question my whole 'local produce' thing

I was picking up some squash and he asked if I was a chef. We got talking and he said something like, 'You guys want local, but you want it year-round. That's not how it works.' He explained that his 'local' tomatoes in February are from a heated greenhouse that burns more fuel than shipping them from Mexico would. It just hit different coming from the guy actually growing it. I always pushed the 'local' menu tag hard, but now I'm thinking it's more about what's in true season for the region, not just mileage. Anyone else had a conversation that shifted how you source stuff?

3 comments

3 Comments

jadeg992mo ago

That farmer makes a good point about greenhouses, but I still buy local first. For me, it's about knowing where my food comes from and supporting my neighbors. The fuel used in shipping is only one part of the story. I want my money going to the family farm down the road, not a big company far away. Even in winter, I'd rather buy their greenhouse greens and know they can keep their land. It feels more real to me.

palmer.riley2mo ago

Honestly, I get the neighbor thing, but my local farm's greenhouse tomatoes cost like $8 a pound in January. I can't afford that every week. So I buy the shipped ones from the big store, and I use that saved money to buy their sweet corn in July when it's actually in season here. To me, supporting them part of the year is more doable than going broke trying to be perfect.

evan2952mo ago

Consider how many people can actually afford that choice. Supporting local farms year-round is a luxury for most budgets. Does that make the whole idea feel out of touch?