Eating Local Bad For the Environment? Published: Aug 20, 2010 · Modified: Aug 20, 2010 by Michael Ruhlman · 1 CommentStephen Budiansky thinks so: NYTimes op-ed.
Jeroen August 24, 2010 at 5:18 am Michael, I'm trying to make my catering business as sustainable as possible, so I should be supportive of your comment. But the op-ed didn't say eating local is bad for the environment. He suggests that it's probably better for me as a Dutchman to buy my tomatoes in Spain than to grow them here in greenhouses at high energy cost. I agree. He is skeptical about a movement that becomes an end in itself. There are a lot of good reasons to support local food, but quoting foodmiles is mostly bullshit. People are stupid all over, as you know. They like to feel good about themselves and talk about how sustainable their food is, while they watch their plasma TV's. Jeroen Reply
Michael,
I'm trying to make my catering business as sustainable as possible, so I should be supportive of your comment.
But the op-ed didn't say eating local is bad for the environment.
He suggests that it's probably better for me as a Dutchman to buy my tomatoes in Spain than to grow them here in greenhouses at high energy cost.
I agree.
He is skeptical about a movement that becomes an end in itself.
There are a lot of good reasons to support local food, but quoting foodmiles is mostly bullshit.
People are stupid all over, as you know.
They like to feel good about themselves and talk about how sustainable their food is, while they watch their plasma TV's.
Jeroen