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We’ve all probably heard it over and over again for as long as we can remember, but these days that old saying, “you are what you eat,” rings truer than ever. What we eat makes up our cells and tissues and is directly connected to our physical health. That seems easy enough to understand. What’s perhaps more difficult to understand is that what we eat also has the potential to profoundly impact how we feel about our place in our community and the world. When I take a bite of food, I don’t just swallow the food on my fork; I also take in the series of events that brought it from the farm to my plate. That bite of food is connected to the conditions of the fields where the food was produced, the condition of the farm workers who grew and harvested it, the facilities where it was processed and packaged, and the shipping and related fuel use required to bring it across this gigantic country. It’s connected to the grocery store, restaurant, or other outlet where I acquired it, and finally, as I place the bite of food in my mouth, it’s connected to me. Sometimes, the path our food takes between the farm and the fork is not very palatable. Those of us who hope to nourish the well-being of our minds and bodies with the food we eat are in the right place. Thanks to abundant local family farms in the mountains of western North Carolina, we have access to fresh, locally produced food and farm products year-round. Supporting these farms not only gives us access to the freshest, most nutritious food available for our bodies; it also supports our peace of mind. Buying local food supports the health of our farms, communities, and natural and scenic landscape. It ensures the unique Appalachian Flavor produced by our climate, water, and topography will be available for the long term. That’s something our minds and our bodies can feel good about.
Even at this unlikely time of year, a number of local farm products are available, such as greenhouse vegetables, apples, winter squash, fresh cheeses and pasture-raised meats. Some local farmers produce vegetables in greenhouses hydroponically, making fresh produce available year-round. One such farmer provides fresh locally raised lettuce to school children in Asheville and Madison County through the efforts of ASAP’s Farm to School Initiative, helping to build healthy minds and healthy bodies for our children. We are also fortunate to have several area farms that produce pasture-raised meats. Several studies suggest that meat from animals raised on pasture offers a multitude of health benefits over their grain-fed counterparts. It is lower in total fat and calories and contains two to four times more omega-3 fatty acids. Studies have shown that a diet rich in Omega-3’s, (otherwise known as “good fats”), reduces the likelihood of ailments such as depression, schizophrenia, hyperactivity, and Alzheimer’s disease. But the “good fat” story doesn’t end there. Meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals are the richest known source of another good fat called conjugated linoleic acid, or CLA, which has shown potential as a cancer defense in recent studies. Finally, meat from grass-fed animals has the upper hand when it comes to vitamin E, a beneficial antioxidant that has been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and cancer. Aside from the health and nutritional benefits of eating local food, support for local farms brings with it a host of other benefits. Local food preserves genetic diversity, supports local farm families, builds community, preserves open space, supports a clean environment, and gives us control and knowledge about where our food comes from. All of this can bring us a peace of mind about how we contribute to the health of our community. Like the nutritional aspect of our food, this peace of mind is critical to our overall well-being. Consider taking advantage of the benefits of pasture-raised meats and other local farm products available at this time of year. While you reap the physical benefits of putting healthier, fresher food into your body, you’ll also benefit from the peace of mind that comes with supporting the families, communities, and landscapes that surround you. To get a taste of Appalachian Flavor every month of the year, consult the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project’s Local Food Guide, available for no cost at businesses that support local farms and online at www.BuyAppalachian.org. And as winter comes to a close, plan ahead for the abundance of locally raised produce that will be available through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farms and local farmers’ tailgate markets with the return of spring. The article was posted with the permission of writer Libby Hinsley, Local Food Campaign Coordinator for the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. Contact her at 828-236-1282 or ilibby@asapconnections.org. (Image provided by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project)
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The nutritional benefits of local food are as abundant as local food is in our region. A recent study showed that fresh produce loses its nutrients quickly and that food that is frozen or canned soon after harvest is actually more nutritious than some “fresh” produce that sits on a truck or supermarket shelf for a week or more. Several studies have shown that the average distance food travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles. In this often-long delay from harvest to dinner table, produce loses its vitality. 