Some of us belong to Sydney Organic Buyers Group - a not-for-profit group which buys organic produce in bulk from the wholesaler, on behalf of our members. We get a box of lovely fresh organic fruit and veg each fortnight.
The group now has a web site - http://www.organicbuyersgroup.org/ and are looking for more members.
There's a bit of a debate going on in the group about whether it's better to buy organic or better to buy local. I'm not sure myself - they both seem pretty important. In brief:
- organic is more sustainable, better for the environment and better for us.
- local means less energy is expended in transporting food long distances, and assists to build a sustainable market for local growers and a secure food supply for people - particularly as we are going into an uncertain future affected by decreasing fossil fuels and climate change.
- antoher important point about buying locally is the impact this has on other countries - monocropping for export contributes to a lack of food in many countries -surely it will improve food security if each community, region, and country around the globe has a good local food supply. But how do communities extract themselves from a dependence the global food market? How much would we still need and want a global food market?
Any thoughts?
Posts
Shirley said...
ReplyDeleteIn response to the bit about the organic veg. It is a great idea and one I have been involved in in the past, however I found then that the fruit and veg are pretty tired by the end of the fortnight. I remember from my days in TAFE that the levels of some nutrients in some vegs (like green leafy ones) drop quite quickly after harvest unless they are cooled quickly. Others like root vegetables are more stable of course. Levels in fruits including tomatoes, avocado, zucchini, egg plant, depend on maturity at harvest and the way they are transported and stored.
That knocks imported perishables off the menu.
So I think local and seasonal take priority over organic, and conditions of transport and storage are very significant. Nothing beats growing your own but being entirely self sufficient in an urban setting in this climate is tricky unless one is retired and in good health I think.
Given all those caveats my personal solution at the moment is to buy fresh stuff about twice a week at a local shop (it's no help to the environment to drive a long way to get there) where there is a rapid turnover, a good cool room, the labels indicate the country of origin, organic where possible.
Happy Easter
Shirley
Elizabeth Saunders said...
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting what you say - the organic veggies we are getting are generally pretty good although it is a bit variable as to how long they last - I find you need to eat a lot of it in the first week (particularly the leafy greens). Perhaps if the group gets bigger they will be able to do weekly orders.
I think that they're also hoping once they increase in members they will help create a big enough market in Sydney so that local growers will feel able to transition to organic practices.
The other pro-active possibility is to form relationships between local growers and a defined group of buyers who guarantee to buy their produce for a period of time. I think there is a name for those sort of arrangements...anyone know what it is?
April 7, 2009 11:15 AM
Howdy food freaks (sorry in a stupid mood and sleep deprived),
ReplyDeleteThe name for the relationship is community supported agriculture programs. Japanese women started the CSA movement in the 1970's. To find CSA programs in Australia, go to www.organicfooddirectory.com.au/comm-food.php
I might sound knowledgeable about this issue, but I am not, I just read it in David Suzuki's Green Guide! Good timing eh. Penrith council started a kind of a CSA with local growers and their staff. A few times a year council staff place orders with local growers and farmers deliver the food in bulk to the council chambers. It has been really successful. I also bought some produce and it was so tasty and fresh. I am pretty sure none of the local growers are organic, they just can't afford to be.
Karen.
Just read another tidbit which might answer your question Elizabeth- all hail Suzuki!- he supports what Shirley said and suggests it is better to buy local if organic food has travelled a long way.
ReplyDelete