My preference has been to buy organic - even if it comes from several thousand miles away.  Because it sends a strong message to the local grower who is poisoning the land I live on and the water I depend on here locally (as well as poisoning me personally and my family and loved ones!).

Why should I pay / reward this person for doing what they do?

And what incentive is there for them to change if I keep paying them for doing what they're doing?

If they hear / learn that I - and others - prefer to pay a foreigner for organic goods then it's more likely they'll come over to producing organically. Of course they'll only be doing it for the money (if they really cared they'd not have used chemicals in the first place!)... but at least they'll finally stop polluting my local space and I can feel comfortable rewarding them for how they go about business, treating me, my people and our land.

As for the CO2 argument (assuming CO2 is causing global warming - about which there is now debate)... well, I'm doing what I can. Donations to tree-planting companies help.  So does quietly planting tress in hedgerows around.  And I'm raising the issue of 'food miles' with my organic supplier. He in turn is raising it up the line to his people. If more of us did the same

The hundred mile thing just isn't going to work for those of us who live in the very large portions of the earth that have long cold winters, very short growing seasons, and a limited variety of produce.  And please don't suggest canning and freezing - I have neither the room nor the time for that. Some things aren't even grown where I live - all the carrots available in my area come from California or Canada, thousands of miles away, and I've yet to see local broccoli or cauliflower. And while I do shop at the local farmer's market in the few short months it's open, the produce variety is limited and erratic. I did locate an organic farm in the town where I grew up, so this year I'm trying the few things they grow.  I pick my own strawberries in June, and blueberries in July, but the farm, unfortunately, isn't organic. The organic strawberries available in the local groceries aren't always good quality, so I must wash conventional ones thoroughly or go without, which I am not about to do. 

Dr. Mercola, do please hurry up with the hydroponic growing system - just today I was thinking about looking up ways to grow salad veggies year-round in a greenhouse set up on my front porch. Thanks!   

From a nutrient point of view, try to select heirloom varieties as well.  They won't travel like hybrid varieties so you are only likely to find them locally.  They have not been bred for travel or packing purposes and, in general, tend to have a higher nutrient content.  Nutrient Loss in the Food Supply:  Eat Heirloom Varieties.

Amanda

I agree!!!!!  I'd rather buy organic and be healthy with OUT all the pesticides and such in our food.
    YES SEND a MESSAGE to the local farmers.
 Why should I support people who don't care about the crap they put into my food. Why should I support people who are poisoning me and my family jsut because they are local. If they realize that more poeple are willing to buy their produce if they go organic then maybe they'll get the picture!
  If we nuy from them just because they are local then we are setting all the good reasons ns for going organic back by years. Plus, by encourageing them to go organic to get our bucks we are then defeating the  unhealthy organics from coming in. It may take a few years but in the long run it is a plan.