Written By: Khadija Aleem
Edited By: Jiya Mehta
Designed By: Fatima Khan
Published By: Cayla Weiler
Your local food system involves the production of local food in your neighbourhood. Participating and engaging in your community’s food system can help improve food production, harvesting, and your community. Buying local food reduces greenhouse gas emissions, contributes to improving our carbon footprint, benefits the local economy, and supports local farmers. Local food is also proven to be more nutritious than transported food. There are many ways to engage with your local food system, including volunteering, making remote contributions, shopping at local businesses, and attending events that promote your food system.
Volunteering:
You can participate in your community’s food system by volunteering at establishments fighting food poverty such as food banks, food kitchens, farms (where you might get produce in exchange for your assistance), and community gardens. You can assist those in need in your community while earning volunteer hours!
From home:
You can also participate in your local food system from the comfort of your own home by growing a home garden on your balcony or backyard. Cook meals with locally sourced ingredients by buying local food, growing food, fishing, hunting, foraging, or starting your own farm if possible.
Supporting Local businesses:
Another way to contribute to your local food system is to make food purchases from businesses that use local ingredients. Purchasing directly from farms, farmers markets, and restaurants that use locally grown ingredients in their meals are some examples of businesses that may benefit your community’s food system. (The website “Feast on” provides a list of restaurants that serve locally grown food in Ontario.)
Events and programs:
Lastly, there are many events and programs you can join to participate in your local food system. Buying food during Events, such as Local Food Week, is a way to participate in your local food system. Another way to support your food system is to participate in programs such as “Fresh from the Farm,” which allows schools to make money by selling locally grown Ontario fruits and vegetables.
Overall, participating in your local food system is easy, environmentally sustainable, rewarding, and fun! Whether it’s volunteering, home-grown food production, purchasing from local businesses, or engaging in events and programs that support your local food system, you will certainly make a difference in your community by participating in your local food system.
References:
The benefits of eating local foods, Food and Dining Services (n.d.). McGill University. https://www.mcgill.ca/foodservices/sustainability/green/local
Local food in Ontario | ontario.ca (2021, March 17). Government of Ontario. https://www.ontario.ca/page/local-food-ontario
Local Food Week 2023 – Ontario (n.d.) Farm & Food Care – Ontario. https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/download/local-food-week-2023/
Mossholder, T. (2019, October 15). Shallow focus photo of thank you for shopping signage photo. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/qvWnGmoTbik
Muniz, J. (2020, June 25). Person in blue crew neck t-shirt holding white plastic bag photo. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/qvzjG2pF4bE
Palmer, S. (2023, April 15). 5 Ways to Get Involved in Your Local Food System – Sharon Palmer, The Plant Powered Dietitian. The Plant-Powered Dietitian. https://sharonpalmer.com/5-ways-to-get-involved-in-your-local-food-system/
Reed, T. O., & Quednau, R. (2017, February 7). 5 Ways to Access and Support Local Food. Strong Towns. https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2017/2/6/5-ways-to-support-local-food
Sherrod, A. (2023, April 17). 5 Ways You Can Support Your Local Food System. Center for Environmental Farming Systems. https://cefs.ncsu.edu/5-ways-you-can-support-your-local-food-system/