As a child, I vividly remember my mom handing me a few dollar bills and sending me off on my bike to get corn from the local farm stand for dinner. The instructions were clear…”pull the husk back just little bit and get the ones with big kernels.” I’d quickly pedal home proudly gripping the brown paper sack in hand – task complete.
It’s true, I grew up in an agriculturally oriented family in Ithaca, New York – a community that was focused on sustainable practices long before it was “cool”. But, back then it was also just what people did. They had gardens in their back yard and shopped at the local farm stand. Who knew that 30+ years later “local food” would be a “movement” needing explanation.
Let’s start with the misconception. “Local food” does not mean only eating bulgur wheat and bean sprouts. Wikipedia defines local food as “ a collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies – one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place.” In other words – eat food that was grown or raised nearby – or in your backyard for that matter. It means frequenting restaurants that shop at the farmer’s market – not from a SYSCO truck.
It seems so obvious. Eat food grown within 100 miles of your home and it will be fresher. Eat fruits and vegetables that haven’t taken a preservative bath in order to survive the 2,670-mile trip from Salinas, California to Roanoke, Virginia and it will be better for you. Eat seafood from the Chesapeake Bay area and it will taste better. Eat food purchased from people you know so the money can support neighbors instead of a grocery store chain from “who knows where.”
In recent months (or years), we have seen a great deal in the news about the plummeting quality and rising cost of our food supply. We have waded through what it means to be “organic”, “all natural,” “pesticide-free,” “nutra-clean” or “free-range” and have seen a new genre of restaurants pop up – promoting “local food.” It’s everywhere – and it’s right here.
Southwest Virginia is blessed with many things – but most of all – we are blessed with direct access to our very own food supply. We are surrounded by miles of farms which are producing delicious and healthy food. But the most important thing is our easy access to that food through farmers markets, food co-ops and great restaurants like “Local Roots” in Grandin Village, “The Red Hen” in Lexington and the soon-to-open gastro pub named “Lucky” on Kirk Avenue in downtown Roanoke.
Nearly every township including Salem, Vinton, Roanoke, Grandin Village – and now Roanoke’s West End Center – has spectacular and thriving farmers markets. There are homemade bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, locally raised meats and dairy products – planted, farmed, harvested and raised by our neighbors.
So, even if you are not a “foodie” — you can do your part for the local economy, the heath of your family, and the sustainability of our community while enjoying some delicious food. Find your way downtown during your lunch hour or on the weekend, stop by the West End Center on a Wednesday evening, or the next time you drive past a farm stand by the side of the road…. stop. Grab a few dollars from your pocket and pick up some fresh, local food for dinner. You’ll be glad you did.
By Stephanie Koehler [email protected]