Why do some people choose to eat local food? Considering that the food system is well-organized to transport foods from great distances, what are the reasons for focusing on locally produced foods? The following topics discuss the benefits and challenges of local food, which will help you decide the extent to which you value local food.

1.Environmental

The following are the potential greenhouse gas emissions reduction, farm aesthetics, and wildlife habitat:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation

Imported foods are transported using trucks, trains, airplanes, and ships to deliver food quickly over thousands of kilometers. On the other hand, local food is transported short distances. The environmental concern with transportation is that burning fossil fuel contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that is emitted when fuel is burned during transportation. The greenhouse effect from the accumulation of these gases in the atmosphere can have consequences for earth’s climate. Transporting food over short distances is often associated with fewer greenhouse gases than large distances.

• Maintaining diversity for sustainability

Local food may mean that local farmers need to grow a diversity of food products so they meet the demand for variety. By producing many foods, the farm operation increases the biodiversity of its growing systems. Planting several different crops and rotating planting locations each year provides ecosystem services, including different sources of food for pollinators and also maintains soil health. The growing system is then more sustainable because the beneficial pollinators and soil structure are functional.

In an export-oriented farm system the focus is usually to specialize in one crop to efficiently produce large quantities of few foods. If a farmer is only growing tomatoes then they only need the expertise and the tools to manage, harvest, and export tomatoes. Having a narrow focus allows them to produce food efficiently.

2. Social

Chance to influence the opinions and practices of others, contributes to food security, and meets the demand for special products:

• Building relationships with farmers

Buying food from local farmers has many benefits. Seeing a familiar face brings a smile and welcomes an interesting conversation – “Why do the peaches look great this year? Why don’t you have any berries this week?” One of the main reasons that customers choose to attend markets is the social aspect of buying local food directly from a farmer. Through repeated interactions, a connection forms between buyer and seller that builds a feeling of partnership in the production of food. This relationship with farmers leads to discussions about the risks of farming and the reasons that drive farm decisions. For example, customers learn when farmers are concerned about threats of frost, if the land is too wet or dry, or if a pest has damaged a crop. The customer learns about what impacts the supply of a food product. The relationship is also an opportunity to influence the opinions and practices of one another. Vendors appreciate discussions and questions from friendly and loyal customers. Discussions are a chance to exchange knowledge and concerns about food products where both vendors and customers can learn. There is an important role for education and food-awareness to help guide these discussions because an informed opinion will lead to progressive developments in local food systems. The challenge that we all share is to produce food sustainably.

• Finding unique or specialty products

Eating can be a fun experience, especially for those people who refer to themselves as a “foodie”. These people who are interested in food as a hobby seek new experiences and flavours. Producers at local farmers’ markets can supply unusual foods because they are positioned to sell a variety and can handle small quantities of an uncommon food product. In comparison, supermarkets handle large volumes and may not be able to stock a perishable food item that is not in high demand. Unique foods can be edible flowers such as calendula that can be scattered onto cakes. Unique foods create exciting opportunities for food bloggers and chefs to stand out from the crowd.

3. Health

Improves freshness, nutrient content and taste.

• Benefitting from food safety standards

Food safety regulations and performance are important. Many countries especially inclusiveness countries still do not have strict safety practices. The Food Inspection Agency regulates food safety using policies that target the source of the food product on farms through to processing and retailing. Risks are also managed by commodity groups (turkey, egg, sheep, beef, dairy, grain, etc.) and retailers that commit to their own strict guidelines. Food safety depends on science-based analysis to report on chemical and microbial risks. Contact with allergens is also carefully monitored and communicated to the public on labels.

• Benefiting from close proximity

Food produced in closer proximity to consumers is often viewed as fresher, more nutritious and better tasting.

•  Fresh

Good appearance, vibrant color, no defects, firm, and aromatic are all qualities that customers associate with fresh fruits and vegetables. Freshness is associated with food when there is little time between picking and eating. Farms that are geographically close can transport fresh food in little time.

• Better tasting

When the qualities of freshness like firmness and aromas are present, the taste is high quality as well. It is important to be aware that local food does not necessarily taste better but it is the time between picking and consumption that really matters. Also important is the quality of food at the time of harvest. Local food that is harvested ripe and transported quickly tends to taste better than non-local food that was harvested unripe in order to withstand long transport times.

• Nutritious

During transport and the retail sale period, nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants degrade. A short time between picking and eating retains the maximum nutrients that fresh foods offer.By eating the same volume of fruits and vegetables, more nutrients can be gleaned from recently picked options.

4. Economic

Increasing local food production increases local jobs for other services.

• Creating jobs for the local economy

Buying local food to support local businesses can produce a multiplier effect in the community. The ‘multiplier effect’ is defined as the increase in local economic activity that results from spending on a new item. For example, if peaches are bought from  Kavadarci farmer in NRM, that money reaches the farmer, who pays his farm staff, who each order services in their own home like cable television or electricians, and so on as payment travels throughout the community. You can imagine how increasing food production in a region increases business in other sectors, which provide other goods and services. Local businesses may also invest in local initiatives for the well-being of the community.

Consider the alternative, if peaches had been purchased from a neighboring country the money would be spread among distributors and wholesalers, who often spend their money in global markets. When money leaves the country, there is less potential for growth of businesses. The multiplier effect is most important when foods are imported from abroad even though they can be grown in the country of origin. Delivery trucks with peaches from the North Macedonia and from Greece pass each other going in the opposite direction, which is known as ‘redundant trade’. One suggestion to increase local production is to substitute imports with the same food item that can instead be produced locally. By substituting imports, new jobs are created to meet local demand. With additional business activity, there are more opportunities for people to gain skills and to have access to learning opportunities.

Photo 2: Red tomatoes grown in the Strumica region