Local grocery stores and farmers' markets now stock a wider variety of fresh fruits and vegetables than ever. Consumers can easily purchase
food that is certified United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic, locally grown or genetically modified. But with so many options, how do we choose the best product? While both organic and locally grown food can be better than conventionally grown food for the environment and for our health, they also have their own drawbacks. Deciding whether to buy organic or locally grown food is a personal choice based on health concerns as well as environmental and social responsibility.
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Is it better to buy organic or local produce? Farmers at EcoVillage in Ithaca, New York grow organic food for the
local community. See more pictures of food.
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Organic food is grown on farms committed to environmentally friendly agricultural methods. In order to label produce as organic, these farms must meet government standards. However, when organic food travels long distances to market -- travel known as
food miles -- it creates pollution that sometimes outweighs the positive environmental effects of organic farming.
Alternatively, food grown locally is fresh and seasonal. If you've ever had a vegetable garden, you know that the best foods are the ones that don't sit on a shelf waiting for you to eat them. Buying local food also allows you to help your community's economy and helps reduce the environmental costs associated with food miles. However, local food is not necessarily grown with organic methods.
| FrankenfoodsIt's likely that you've eaten genetically modified (GM) food without even knowing it. In 2006, a poll sponsored by the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology found that Americans underestimate the predominance of modified food. Only about 25 percent of adults polled believed they had ever eaten GM food [source: Pew].
GM food comes from plants and animals that have had their DNA altered to make them more resistant to disease, insects or other growing and breeding concerns. GM food is not required to be labeled as such. While modified food has the potential to help solve world food supply concerns, critics worry about the unknown effects on our health and the environment.
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The decision to buy organic or local foods is not a simple one. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of both options.
Video Gallery: Home Grown
In this video from Reuters, New Yorker Manny Howard set up his own organic farm in his 200-square foot Brooklyn backyard. |
