Whakaaro: Local Food Challenge
As part of the 10th celebration of Ecofest this year, there is a Food Challenge—for the Tasman and Nelson regions to eat only local food (200km radius) for one month.
It has already started, but I realise many in Golden Bay are already good at eating local—many have a veggie garden, eat eggs from their friends’ chooks, some are even organised enough to eat meat from stock they have raised. Most people have a lemon or apple tree and buy produce they don’t grow themselves from a roadside stall, or whatever local shop is selling produce. Berryfruit from East Takaka, avocados from Rototai and stonefruit from Puramahoi are all seasonal highlights for many. Gathering shellfish, produce from trees on public land and fishing are all delights, too.
In the supermarket and shops we tend to have lots of choices for any one product. There’s the cost, brand differences, the packaging, quantity, quality, organic or not, and where it’s grown/processed/manufactured to consider. We all prioritise these differently. Some even buy things because they are just the nicely-coloured ones placed at eye level on the shelf, or there’s a fun ad about it on TV.
However, cost tends to be the major consideration for most of us. I’m asking you to also value highly where it is grown and/or processed. If possible, buy the brand that is grown or made locally—do so knowing you are helping your neighbour, and therefore your neighbour is better able to help you too.
Some items like coffee can’t be grown locally, but a lot is processed here in the Bay. If you can’t buy local, choose New Zealand-made. Last choice is anything grown, manufactured and processed overseas.
For fresh items, this will often mean eating more seasonally. Do you really need those Australian strawberries (that tend to be nearly tasteless) in August? If the New Zealand-grown oats cost 22 cents more than the Chinese-grown ones, can you afford it, knowing you will be doing good on so many levels?
What levels? Supporting the local or New Zealand economy, even Golden Bay’s ability to cope with a long-term road closure, and acting against climate change and diminished oil supplies.
If you can’t tell where something is from, ask a store assistant. It’s only by asking and our requests being heard higher up the food supply chain, that the lack of information and ambiguous wording will change.
Lastly, be conscious and proud of every small change you can make—make your buying power count. Maybe on each major shopping visit you can research one item and change to the best option available to support our economy and the planet. It would be lovely for our great grand-kids to inherit a planet worth living on, wouldn’t it? All the small actions do add up to major changes—but only if you actually make them.
Claire Webster
