THE BENEFITS OF THE LOCAL FOOD MOVEMENT
Proposal
The Local Food Movement is said to be created through millennials. The increase in rapid food trends with the preference for identifiable local and sustainable foods in farmers' markets, grocery stores, restaurants, food hubs and many more helped create The Local Food Movement. "Canada’s local food movement champions sustainable, regional food systems in which farmland is spared from urban and industrial sprawl so that ecologically-minded farmers produce food, with consideration for animal, environmental and human health, for a public who knows where their food comes from and is engaged in eating seasonally.” (Elton, 2015) We as the human race have become distracted with the fast-food of food to keep up with the daily demands in our lives. The disconnection between the planet and people needs to become smaller. Shortening the distance from farm to table is essential for us to gain whole nutrition from our plant. At the same time, we continue to give back to the plant through sustainable/ environmentally friendly practices. The Local Food Movement provides us with methods to identify, source, and reconnect with local food industries and support this movement.
The three benefits of The Local Food Movement are 1. Knowing where your food comes from by purchasing “In – Season” Produce. In-season produce is often cheaper due to reduced travelling
times thus, increasing nutritional value. “Ontario has four seasons. Many advances have been made to expand the growing season from weeks to several months. Because of our seasonality, different crops are harvested at different times of the year.” (Fresh) Certain produce is higher in quantity during the “In–Season” times. 2. The conscious shift to become more responsible for how we care for our planet is increasing. People want to stop the damaging effects the food industry creates through unstainable practices. A healthy environment is the basis of a resilient and sustainable agroecosystem. Agriculture affects and is affected by the natural world, and as such, it must work within biological systems. Canadian agricultural systems must build and maintain healthy soil, clean water and air, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate and adapt to climate change, protect and enhance biodiversity, protect farmland, and reduce waste. (ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE) 3. Educating each other and remaining up to date with information is critical for Farm to Table to work in transparency.
We were exploring the information provided through books and the internet in hopes that information is current, relevant, and creating full transparency to aid the progress of The Local Food Movement. Does every region hold businesses accountable in the food industry? And Can we expand the local food movement within our smaller communities to impact real change?
Check out more on the Local Food Movement Here.
If you like reading about the local food movement or learning more about sustainability within the food system, you can let me know in the comments below or on social media using #ThompsonsTastyTreats and tag us @Thompsonstastytreats. We’re always happy to read your feedback and love seeing your take on these topics within Canada.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter – you’ll be notified when we post new recipes, plus you get a gift from us ✨A 5-recipe free e-book with our plant-based recipes!
You can connect with us on our Instagram or Pinterest. We share many behind-the-scenes photos and step-by-step recipes in our Pinterest Idea Pins Boards, so be sure to check it out!
Thank You for Reading!!✨
References
Elton, S. (2015, April 23). Local Food Movement. Retrieved from The Canadian Encyclopedia: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/local-food-movement
ENVIRONMENT AND AGRICULTURE. (n.d.). Retrieved from Food Secure Canada: https://foodsecurecanada.org/
Fresh, O. F. (n.d.). Ontario Farm Fresh. Retrieved from http://ontariofarmfresh.com/consumers/whats-in-season/