Be a Good Neighbor

Support local farmers

The carbon footprint on many of our food products is significant. On average, your food travels 1,500 miles before it reaches your plate. Locally grown produce from a farmer’s market can take a significantly shorter journey – and it has a better chance of being fresher when it arrives. Check out your local farmer’s market and find out where their products are grown. You don’t have to change all of your purchase habits over night – just start with one or two items you will commit to buying each week and build up from there.

Buying produce that is in-season in your local area will also significantly reduce food miles. Remember if it’s not in season where you live, it’s probably been shipped from halfway around the globe to reach you.

Many supermarkets are beginning to focus on local produce – ask the produce department associate where the food is from if it’s not clearly labeled. There is new law that now requires Country of Origin labeling on many food products, making it easier to identify where your food has come from.

Also, ask your local restaurants what they are doing to for sustainability and support the ones that are doing good things. For example: RJs in Dana Point buys local organic broccoli, so be sure to add some of that to your next omelet.