Local food is nca! And here’s why…
The “local food” movement has been around in South Africa for almost 20 years now. Organisations like Slow Food South Africa started in 2001 with the “aim to support keeping our rich local food biodiversity and traditions alive”.
In 2007 the New American Oxford dictionary announced the Oxford Word of the Year: locavore, which is a person whose diet consists mainly of locally grown or produced food. These individuals shy away from supermarkets and mostly buy from local farmers and artisan markets. This way of living ensures that they are almost always aware of where their food comes from, who grew it and how ethically it has been grown.
Although there is no official definition for local food, it is widely accepted as foods that have been grown or produced within a 160km radius of one’s home. And if like me those kilometres don’t bring you your childhood favourites from home, your province/region or your country’s food is still considered local. From our research we were happy to go with the definition of “seasonal, fresh, tasty, healthy and sustainable food” which is in line with our values. Let’s break these down further…
Health
For us, health is by far the best reason to buy and eat local. According to the ancient Ayurveda practice, fresh food is easily digested which helps your body feed on the nutrients and release waste unconstrained. This prevents slow-moving digestion, which in turn affects one’s immunity. The practice further suggests that “centering your diet on foods grown in the soil and climate where you live can actually help prevent allergies and other problems”. This is observed in the cold and flu season which is in rhythm with the citrus season that supplies natural vitamin C to help fight seasonal illnesses.
Taste
If you’ve ever picked something from your food garden at home you will know what I’m talking about. Food from local farms is picked when ripe and usually takes about 24 hours to get to your home. This brings that “just tugged out of the soil” taste which is unlike any other. Food that travels from far gets picked before it reaches ripeness to avoid damage and spoiling, and then it still goes through the distribution centre before reaching your supermarket. We’ve all seen out-of-season avocados shipped into the country at almost R60 for two, and I won’t even mention the chickens!
Nutrients
As food is harvested, the nutrient value decreases since plants get most of their nutrients from the soil. Food that has travelled endless kilometres to get to your plate will have fewer nutrients. The shorter the time between harvest and your plate the more nutrient-dense the food will be.
Food Diversity
Local farming is important for food diversity. When we incorporate a wide variety of foods into our diets it ensures nutrient adequacy, which is vital for the health of our bodies. Variety also brings experimentation and encourages one to try new foods and recipes, in turn bringing pleasure and fun into food instead of experiencing it as simply sustenance.
Improving Local Economy
Have you ever thought about the entire value chain involved in getting a bag of tomatoes into your home, even if it comes in a can? From the farmworker to the packaging, transportation, agro-processing etc.? If you spend money with local growers that cash circulates in the community. In South Africa this has never been more needed as our country’s economy continues to struggle and our socio-economic challenges show tragic results.
Power to the Customer
At the end of the day, it’s all about YOU, the customer. As a consumer, buying from local farms means that you know where your food comes from, who grows it and how they grow your food. You decide where your money is best spent. Customers are no longer satisfied with food labels or the non-existence thereof in SA, they want to talk to food growers, visit the farms and be assured that what they are consuming is clean and has been grown ethically. Organisations like Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) South Africa, does farm visits on behalf of their customers as part of their organic farm audits. Read more about their process here.
The season of abundance is upon us, and we are very excited to supply our customers with a variety of fresh produce from urban food farmers, honey from the beekeepers in Gauteng and delicious eggs laid by indigenous chickens in Bela Bela. To order your weekly veggie box from us, click here!
As we say in South Africa, local is Nca!
Disclaimer: External information referenced is for purposes of this article only and does not imply partnership or association with the organisation or its specific viewpoint.
