2008 Essay Contest Winners
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Mallory Irwinsky |
1st Place Essay – 2008
Mallory Irwinsky
Piedmont High School
11th Grade
Read Press Release
Locally Grown Foods: From Farm To Table
Growing food in Oklahoma is an important part of our state’s
economy. Buying locally limits food availability due to growing
season and region, and may appear to be less convenient. However,
the advantages of local food - building a strong local economy,
the ecological benefits of preserving family farms, conservation
of fuels through reduced transportation, and most importantly improved
nutrition and health - all present important reasons why buying
local is better. Agriculture is Oklahoma’s second largest
industry, and supporting local production is beneficial to our
farmers and crucial for the health of our economy, environment,
and our citizens.
It has been estimated that if Oklahomans spent $10 per week on
locally produced foods, more than $1.4 billion would be injected
into our state’s economy (Buy Fresh, Buy Local Oklahoma par.
5). Not only would this boost our economy, but that money would
aid local farmers in continuing to produce and sell in their hometowns.
Without a sustained source of income, family farms and ranches
may be forced to sell their land to developers. When Oklahomans
buy locally they allow farmers to continue to earn a living while
supporting their local communities (Institute for Ecological Health).
Buying locally grown foods not only contributes to the economy
but also impacts our environment. Food that has been transported
from out-of-state farms or manufacturers means increased carbon
emissions, further damaging our fragile environment (BBC Food Matters – Food
Miles). Another ecological benefit of locally grown food is the
preservation of genetic diversity. Food found in the supermarket
is bred to have a long shelf life and a tough skin to withstand
packaging and shipping. Although many advances have been made in
farming technology, food from local farms is still grown the old-fashioned
way, without any preservatives or genetic alteration. Also, local
farms are able to grow a large number of varieties in search of
the best flavors, benefiting the consumer (10 Reasons to Buy Local).
Food security, as defined by the Life Sciences Research Office,
is full access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle
for everyone. It includes the ready availability of nutritionally
adequate and safe foods, and an assured ability to acquire them
in a socially acceptable way. According to the USDA, in 2004, Oklahoma
had the highest rate in the nation of food insecurity with hunger
(Closer to Home). Removing most of the middle processing and transportation
of farm products would reduce the cost to the final consumer, making
it more affordable for food-insecure Oklahomans, and return more
of the profit to the original producer, the farmer. Creating a
reliable source of fresh, healthy food could greatly raise food
security in our state and improve the deplorable level of hunger.
According to the fourth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies
are Failing in America 2007 report from the Trust for America’s
Health (TFAH), Oklahoma had the 9th highest obesity rate for adults
and the 17th highest rate for children. Local food usage addresses
this problem, especially through programs implemented in schools.
The Oklahoma Farm to School program, initiated in 2000, is a win-win
situation for the participating schools and farmers. Students gain
a healthier selection of locally grown food as well as nutritional
education opportunities. Farmers gain a new market for their products
and a new way to connect with their community’s youth, which
can potentially tackle some of the unhealthy practices currently
present in most schools (What is Farm to School?). Many health
benefits of local foods such as taste, freshness, and nutrition
can’t be matched by imported produce. Produce from an Oklahoma
farm is probably picked within a few days compared to produce flown
or trucked in from another part of the country. Commercially canned
or frozen foods are actually more nutritious than “fresh” food
that has traveled many days, but the most nutritious food is locally
grown and purchased soon after harvest (10 Reasons to Buy Local).
Although locally grown food can have its limits in terms of regional
and seasonal availability, its benefits far outweigh these small
disadvantages. The growing season of certain foods is natural,
and to expect to see them all year-round has unfortunately become
normal for consumers. Purchasing food in season from your local
farmers market or co-op is such a small change, but it is one that
can make a big difference in our economy and environment. Although
canned and frozen food can seem more convenient, there is no produce
bought from a store that can compare to the fresh taste of food
right out of our red earth, and local farmers provide that opportunity
to all Oklahomans. However, local food must be promoted before
consumers will take notice. If more people can be made aware of
the benefits of purchasing locally grown products, consumption
will increase. As oil continues its climb past $100 a barrel, locally
grown foods should become increasingly more economical. Canning
and freezing locally grown foods is a business opportunity for
someone to counter the complaints of seasonal availability and
inconvenience. Programs comparable to the successful Farm to School
program could be implemented, targeting grocery stores and restaurants.
A campaign to increase public awareness should result in the increased
patronage of our farmers markets, lead grocery stores to offer
more locally grown food, and entice restaurants to include homegrown
produce in their menu offerings. That will lead to better health,
both fiscal and physical, for us all. Future generations need memories
of gathering Oklahoma pecans and helping their grandmother make
a pie, taking a fall tractor ride out into an Oklahoma pumpkin
patch and seeing the big combines come through to harvest our waving
wheat. The value of locally grown foods goes beyond economic and
health benefits; it’s also about preserving rich farming
traditions and maintaining the pride of hard-working Oklahomans
who want to continue providing beautiful, nutritious foods.
Works Cited
“Buy Fresh, Buy Local Oklahoma.” The Kerr Center for
Sustainable Agriculture. 2007. 23 Mar. 2008 http://kerrcenter.com/buy-fresh.htm.
Closer to Home: Healthier Food, Farms and Families in Oklahoma.
Comp. The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The Kerr Center
for Sustainable Agriculture. 23 Mar. 2008 http://www.kerrcenter.com/publications/closer_to_home/toc.htm.
“Conserving Rural Landscapes.” The Institute for Ecological Health.
2008. 23 Mar. 2008 http://www.instituteforecologicalhealth.org/conserving_rural_landscapes.html.
Stacey, Caroline.
“Food Miles.” BBC. Feb. 2008. 23 Mar. 2008 http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/food_matters/foodmiles.shtml#top.
“10 Reasons to Buy Local Food.” The Kerr Center for
Sustainable Agriculture. 2007. 23 Mar. 2008 http://www.kerrcenter.com/pdf/10_reasons_to_buy_local.pdf.
“What is Farm to School?” Farm to School. 2006. The
Center for Food and Justice. 23 Mar. 2008 http://www.farmtoschool.org/aboutus.php.
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