Muncaster said there’s little doubt that investing in our local food system is going to mean more monetary commitment from consumers, be they restaurants, schools or families. And while only those of us drawing on trust funds can afford to buy everything local, she hopes we’ll put our dollars where our mouths and our homes are.
Local food prices could come down marginally if the region sees an increase in local farms, much as is happening on the national scene, where the number of small organic farms is growing for the first time since the 1950s. Nevertheless, a steak cut from the loin of a local, grass-fed cow who has lived her life on Mead Ranch will never cost as little as one from a heifer finished at a filthy, crowded Illinois feedlot. But it will taste better.
I think someday we’ll look back on these troubled times as the catalyst for one of the greatest movements in human history. A new president, a global economic crisis that will halt our insatiable consumption, an urgent regard for the environment, and best of all, a renewed passion for good, clean, fair food.
School’s out, the sun is shining, and summer is in full swing. There is no better time to teach kids a reverence for fresh, local food, how it grows, and just how good it tastes. Tips include gardening, finding farm fresh food, cooking, cheesemaking and Food Fun in Teton Valley.
No one is advocating a return to the dark ages. But reviving our local food economy has the potential to unite our divided community, save our agrarian heritage, help slow global warming, and preserve the beautiful scenery we treasure.
Thoughts that I might, along with Jed, have gone crazy entered my mind periodically. They were quickly brushed away by a firm belief that modern chemical agriculture is destroying the planet and there has to be a better way.
Everyone is touching on the idea is that what’s at stake is not just our own health and the health of our children, but the health of our relationships, the environment, and our communities.