Because stores like Publix and Whole Foods have been trying to carry local products, like honey, salsa, guacamole and produce, you might be faced with having to choose between a nonorganic food that was grown locally and an organic product that isn’t local. Buying the local item will help local growers stay in business and benefit your city and state economy, but it isn’t organic, so it may have chemicals. These chemicals can spread around the environment when it rains or through natural infiltration due to gravity, damaging habitats and waters. The organic item is chemical-free, but it may have been driven to your grocery from California. Transporting produce across long distances requires large amounts of fuel, generating lot of air pollution compared to transporting produce within Florida or your local area. Which is the right choice? This is a big debate in the environmental community, and you have to choose what is right for you. You can make these decisions easier by learning about what is and isn’t necessary to buy organic. Check out the next Sustainability Tip for more information on this.
