Local or Organic?

Here's something we struggle with fairly regularly around here in Vermont...at least if you are the type that wants to eat both locally and organic. Although the author's perspective is based in New Mexico, a vastly different climate, it's a question we struggle with here where short seasons send consumers to buy limp, tasteless organic greens from a huge California company in January, or import large, watery strawberries in March.

In Craftsbury, we are lucky to have several excellent vegetable farms and farmers that are organic and within 10 miles of us. Robert Linck who has Bub's Best, Kris Coville who has Wild Branch Farm and Pete Johnson of Pete's Greens are three that are within 5 miles! I worked for Pete for a couple of years (still do here and there) and have had a front row seat of watching him plan, figure, plant, grow and harvest in a climate that is unpredictable and challenging. Robert and Kris, who have smaller farms rely mostly on the short season farmers' markets in Central Vermont and farm stands to produce income for themselves and their families. The small farm is a way of life, no matter the scale and a summer like we've had this year with heavy rain and tornado-like wind (took down part of Pete's 1/2 acre greenhouse) can damage a crop and cause far reaching financial consequences.

So, now that i've stepped off the soap box, read the following excellent article by cookbook author and local food advocate Deborah Madison.

Cheers!
Elena

Local and organic for me

By Deborah Madison

June 8, 2007

Local might be the new organic, but I find the question “local or organic?” an odd one. I know local, and I want organic, but why not choose both local and organic? That’s the headline I want to see on the cover of Time.

If I have to choose — I mean, if I really am forced to choose — I’ll go for local over organic, and I’ve been saying that for years. But I don’t choose that lightly or without consideration for my locale: northern New Mexico, where farmland and farmers are scarce and water even more so. If I still lived in northern California, I might be singing a different tune.

Read rest of article here