Read About 2008 Essay Contest

2008 Essay Contest Winners

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.