'Local' produce isn't always nearby

In the winter and early spring, when buying locally grown tomatoes is not an option, I have come to rely on tomatoes from Vermont Hydroponic. It turns out tasty, ripe tomatoes for most of the year. But recently when I went to cut into a Vermont Hydroponic tomato, I noticed something unexpected on the sticker: “Product of Quebec.” Yes, despite the brand name, the tomato itself was not from Vermont. That discovery got me thinking about the tricky nature of trying to buy local food.

Over the past 10 years or so, consumers’ appetite for foods locally grown and produced has steadily increased. Consumers like the sense of connection with farmers, the often superior flavor and freshness, and the reduced carbon emissions that can come from not having to ship foods over long distances. Farmers markets have proliferated, and even major supermarket chains have started sourcing some produce from area farms to satisfy demand from customers.

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