Eating Local Food in Pennsylvania - Becoming a Locavore

Herbivores eat plants. Carnivores eat meat. Omnivores eat both plants and meat. Detritivores aka scavengers eat decaying matter or animals killed by other organisms. So what does a locavore eat? According to Jennifer Maiser, editor of the Eat Local Challenge Website, “Locavores are people who pay attention to where their food comes from and commit to eating local food as much as possible ." In short, a locavore eats locally grown food.

On Maiser's site, she lists 10 Reasons to Eat Local Food - here are a few:

• It aids the local economy
• It means fresher food
• It means better taste
• It's organic
• It supports local providers

But Maiser lives in Georgia and I live in Pennsylvania and I wanted to see what local locavores had to say, hence Paula Cornmesser.

Cornmesser and her husband, Kent, own Big Oak Ridge, a “20 acre homestead located in the “foothills of the Allegheny Mountains" where their mission is, "... to empower people with knowledge and skills to live a sustainable lifestyle by providing information, education, demonstrations and tools." Their “Ramblings from the Ridge” page contains everything from pictures of newborn goats to how to make your own pasta. “The Locavorium” is a helpful page for local eating enthusiasts that lists where to find honey, grain and fresh milk in the area.

As I sat down to read correspondence from Paula, I popped open a can of soup and thought about the residents at Big Oak Ridge. The Cornmessers try to eat only what is grown or produced within 100 miles of their home. (It appears that 100 miles is a popular radius for locavores.) A large garden, chicken, goats, wild game and fruit bearing trees and bushes are part of their diet. They supplement this with local milk, honey and other food that fits the Big Oak Ridge philosophy. A philosophy that states:

1. We will grow or produce as much food as we can on our farm.

2. We will search for organic and non-GMO products within 100 miles of our home. If a product is not grown in our area, we will look for products: first, in Pennsylvania, second, on the East Coast and third, within the United States.

3. If it is impossible to get the product in the US (IE: coffee, coconut oil), we will look for an organic, Fair Trade source.

4. We are NOT making a religion of this and will not turn up our noses at parties and in other’s homes…we will be gracious and thankful for the hospitality of others.

So it's not a religion, but more a lifestyle and when questioned how does one become a locavore, Cornmessser offers the following advice:

1. Try to eliminate processed foods from your diet.

2. Search for organic or better yet "Certified naturally grown" foods.

3. Look for local products or farm products, CSAs (community supported agriculture) or in a pinch, Whole Food Markets.

4. Network with other folks to get information on where to buy the best local products.

"One of the mantras of the local movement is to 'know your farmer' - the better you know the farmer personally," says Cornmesser, "the more you can ask him/her how their product is raised and what, if any, chemicals and additives have been used in the process." Not everything is grown by farmers, per se so Cornmesser said when it comes to local farm markets or roadside veggie stands - it is important to know where this produce is coming from and if it is organic or not. As with anything, "ask"!

The farmers at Big Oak Ridge suggest "baby steps" for those who would like to start eating local.

The Cornmessers aren't the only ones promoting the locavore lifestyle - "We'd also like to see Americans celebrate local, seasonal and artisanal ingredients by buying fresh produce directly from the farmers in their communities." says Jeff Deasy of American Feast in a Huffington Post article. "Locally grown vegetables and fruits harvested within hours of landing on your table just can't be beat for the vibrancy of their flavors. The longer the time between harvesting food and getting it to your table the more plant cells break down and sugars turn to starches. The result is less vivid flavor and the loss of important nutrients."

For Cornmesser, eating locally goes even further than taste: "I’m sure everyone has an opinion why their food choices are better, healthier, easier and more tasty", she says, "but for us, this is our choice…for sustainability, environmental stewardship and our own food peace of mind."

Certified Naturally Grown: (CNG) is a non-profit alternate farm assurance certification program created for small-scale organic farmers, and striving to strengthen the organic movement by preserving high organic standards and removing financial barriers that tend to exclude smaller farms that are selling locally and directly to their customers.

CSA (Community Support Agriculture) is a system in which a farm operation is supported by shareholders within the community who share both the benefits and risks of food production.

Locavore: A person interested in eating food that is locally
produced, not moved long distances to market. One often cited, but not
universal, definition of "local" food is food grown within 100 miles of
its point of purchase or consumption

Non-GMO: These are products that are not Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). GMOs refer to plants and animals with an altered genetic make-up. GMOs are generally altered or manipulated by a non-natural means in order to incorporate genes from another organism. Usually genetic engineering (GE) is done to achieve a trait not normally held by an organism, such as longer shelf life, disease resistance or different colors or flavors.

Organic: grown or made without the use of artificial chemicals

Fair Trade Source: is an organized social movement that aims to help producers in developing countries to make better trading conditions and promote sustainability.

Sustainability: There is no simple definition of 'sustainability'. It can be an idea, a property of living systems, a manufacturing method or a way of life. In fact, there may be as many definitions of sustainability as there are people trying to define it.

However, most definitions include:

• living within the limits of what the environment can provide
• understanding the many interconnections between economy, society and the environment
• the equal distribution of resources and opportunities.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. - is an American foods supermarket chain that first opened on September 20, 1980. Whole Foods market sells high quality natural and organic foods, advances sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship, and actively supports local and global community programs.

Maiser, J. (2007, November 2). 10 Steps to Becoming a Locavore. PBS. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/344/locavore.

Salerno, Dr.. "What Is Sustainable Food?." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 20 Jan. 2010. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-john-salerno/what-is-sustainable-food_b_428570.html>.