Look at the bottom of this page for the definition of any red words you don't know.

Hi! I’m Marlow, the Kidsregen Roving Reporter. If you want to know what’s happening on our planet, you’ve got to dig around to get the facts.

Do you know that some of the food you eat today might have traveled between 1,500 and 2,500 miles to get to your table? Why does it come so far? What happens to it along the way? Is it better to eat food that grows on farms closer to home? I went to find some answers at the grocery store. There I met an apple from Washington State, a tomato from Florida, lettuce from California, and a kiwi fruit from New Zealand! (In many places in the US, more than 70% of what we eat comes from outside the region.)

I said to the produce, "But that’s thousands of miles from here! How come you look so fresh?"

"I was dipped in fungicides, cleaned with detergents, then polished with wax," the apple replied.

The lettuce said, "I traveled in a refrigerated truck for two weeks. Brrrrr!"

"Boy, all that traveling uses up lots of fuel and doesn’t sound good for the health of the environment," I remarked.

The tomato told her story. "I was picked when I was just a green baby tomato, then gassed to make me ripe and red."

The kiwi added, "I got a ton of frequent flier miles…"

I couldn't help but ask, "So are you really fresh? Are you as tasty and full of important nutrients as food that was picked yesterday?"

The apple answered my question. "So what if we don’t have important nutrients. Most of us are specially grown to travel well and not spoil too quickly. If we look good people will buy us. Are we supposed to taste good too?"

Huh. Maybe I’ll get to the root of the story at the farmer's market….

At the local farmer's market, I talked to some friendly foods. "So, carrots, how are you different from the produce I talked to in the store?"

The carrots replied, "Isn’t it obvious? We’re brand new! We were picked yesterday at a farm just down the road, so we’re ripe and bursting with flavor…not tired out or covered in preservatives like food that’s traveled in trucks, planes, and ships. Our short journey makes us less likely to be contaminated and because we don’t have to be processed, packaged, or advertised, people get to pay less for us too."

The broccoli added, "And we’re really nutritious! Did you know broccoli like me loses up to 34% of its Vitamin C just two days after it’s picked? That’s why it’s best to eat produce when it’s fresh and in season."

Newsflash! Buying locally grown meat benefits farm animals too. Instead of being factory farmed in cramped pens, local cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens are usually raised on pasture, which helps keep them happier and healthier and reduces the need for medicine

The strawberries couldn't wait to talk! "Pick us! Pick us! Local food is often grown without chemicals using organic, sustainable, and regenerative methods, which help preserve the soil, the environment, and the farmer’s health."

"And buying local foods helps support family farms, which provide jobs for local people," added the eggs.

I happily said, "Thanks guys, that’s good to know!"

There are lots of different places where you can buy locally grown flowers, fruits, veggies, eggs, and all sorts of other foods. You might have one or more of these places near you!

•	A Pick-It-Yourself or CSA farm.
•	A farmer's market or roadside stand.
•	You can even have fresh produce delivered to your house through a special delivery program!

About 3 million people visit more than more than 3,100 farmers' markets in the US each week. Eating local food is a great way to appreciate the incredible flavors of every season!

 

Related Links Find farmer's markets, CSA farms, and other places to buy locally grown food in your area. Learn more about why local food rules, and ask your grocery store to carry it! Search for local and online places to buy meats, eggs, and dairy products that are made in a healthy, sustainable way!

GLOSSARY WORDS:
Contaminate
To make something unclean by polluting it with germs or chemicals. Contaminated food or water is not safe to eat or drink.

CSA
CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. People buy a share of a CSA farm before the growing season starts, and then they receive fresh fruits, vegetables, and other locally grown foods every week throughout the season.

Factory farming
Raising large numbers of animals (usually in pens with little access to pasture) in order to produce more food with fewer costs involved. Animals can become stressed by being overcrowded and eating an improper diet so they grow more quickly than they would naturally. They are routinely given antibiotics to keep them healthy enough to survive. Chickens may have their beaks and claws clipped to prevent injury to other birds.

Farmer's market
A market where farmers sell their freshly picked fruit, vegetables, and home-made products to the public. Farmer's markets are found all over the world.

Fungicide
A man-made chemical used to kill fungi (mushrooms, mold, bacteria, etc).

In season
Food that is harvested and eaten during the time of year when it naturally grows the best is called "in season."

Organic
Refers to things that are alive or produced by living things. Growing plants this way means working in harmony with nature rather that against it (no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides).

Pasture
A large plot of land where animals can freely graze (eat) on grass and other plants.

Preservative
A substance that is added to food to prevent it from spoiling or changing color. Preservatives are often made from chemicals.

Regenerative
Relying on the resources that exist naturally; renewing.

Sustainable
Able to continue indefinitely. Using a resource faster than it is replaced is not sustainable.

Text, Sarah Eykyn
Illustrations, Yasushi Fujimoto