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Take a good look at the labels the next time you go grocery shopping. The food in the grocery store aisles might be better travelled than you are! And that’s a bad thing for a number of reasons. The David Suzuki Foundation encourages Canadians to eat locally produced food. This is important because it reduces the need for food transportation. The further food is shipped the greater the effect on nature. Whether it’s transported by planes, trains, and automobiles, moving food burns fossil fuels that release the heat-trapping gases that cause climate change. Maybe that apple from New Zealand isn’t so innocent after all! There are other reasons why you should eat local. Food that has to be transported from other countries is often preserved with waxes, irradiation, gases and fungicides. And it all winds up on your dinner plate. Local produce will likely be less contaminated with these things because it doesn’t need to be preserved for long periods of time. And because it’s fresher, local produce contains higher levels of vitamins than its imported competitors. Many of Canada’s hottest chefs use locals ingredients in their dishes because meals taste more robust and it helps promote regional cuisine. And don’t think that buying local refers to just fruits vegetables, either. You can buy locally produced meat, pasta, cheese, eggs, jams, jellies, juices, wines, beers and many other products. Check the labels! You might be surprised at the local options that are available. By purchasing locally produced food, you’ll show your support for food producers in your region, and keep local farmers in business so they’ll be less likely to sell their land to developers who’ll turn it into strip malls. It also encourages more jobs, which is good news for your community’s economy. (And if you buy local food that’s organically produced, even better!)
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