The theme behind this interesting "think" piece isn't the organic movement.

Rather, it's geared to encourage folks to find local sources for their foods, the safest and most affordable way to eat "happier" meals, leading some to call themselves localtarians and locavores.

When major retailers like Wal-Mart sell organic food, it still requires an industrial model of farming and long-distance shipping remains the same.

Growing, chilling, washing, packaging and transporting a box of organic salad from California to the East coast takes 57 calories of fossil fuel for every calorie of food.

If eating locally captures national attention, the movement could reinvent the model of industrial farming in a way that organic food never could. It could eventually lead to more money for local economies, more fresh produce in the diet, and a greater appreciation for the natural cycles of the Earth.

Dr. Mercola's Comment:

I have found that it is helpful to have a positive view of events, as it is difficult to predict how they may work for our long-term good. In this case, the news reports of Wal-Mart's overly publicized move to sell organic foods, coupled with the organic spinach scare during the past 12 months, seem to have had an upside after all.

Combine those accounts with the realization that most fruits and vegetables travel as far as 2,500 miles just to reach your corner grocery store, with predictable results both for their freshness and environmental impact; it's no surprise people are beginning to wonder if that organic label they're seeing plastered everywhere really means anything at all, beyond a corporate symbol.

There currently seems to be a very serious reevaluation of the entire perception and value of "organic" with the recognition that it has been recently perverted and is not to be considered the certification of healthy that it used to be.

That honor seems to have shifted to locally grown produce grown organically. Not only is it fresher and healthier for you but it is far more environmentally friendly, as large amounts of fuel are not wasted in transporting it to you.

However, considering the massive farm subsidies keeping some farmers solvent at the U.S. taxpayer's expense, don't expect the U.S. government to publicly sanction or encourage consumers to buy local foods. Of course, that doesn't mean you can't start a health and environmental revolution on your own by seeking out more wholesome sources for your food near you.

And if you're wondering about the reasons why you should stay away from substandard, cheap factory food, I urge you to review my newest resource page, supporting the great need for sustainable agriculture with many links.

Related Articles:

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