There’s an interesting little show on the Planet Green channel that has sucked me in like a cosmic vacuum. It’s the 100 Mile Challenge.
The premise is the people of Mission, British Columbia, will eat “local” for 100 days. And from what I’ve seen so far, it’s going to be a loooooonnnnnngggggg 100 days without coffee, sugar, salt, and beer. But the people are convinced it’s a healthier way to eat, not just for them but also for the planet.
Now there are advantages to eating local that the food industry can’t afford to overlook—and smart operators don’t. Not only does local sourcing provide fresher food and lower fuel costs, but it also appeals to consumers who tend to be passionate about food and healthful eating. These consumers tend to be willing to pay more to a price premium on premium goods.
But the show also reminds us of why we have such an extensive food system in place in the first place. Think about it. Although it varies by geography, chances are the bulk of what you eat and drink probably doesn’t grow within 100 miles of you.
For me, contraband would include coffee, orange juice, olive oil, almonds, spices, any fresh, out-of-season produce (unless it comes out of a green house) and probably most staples, such as sugar, salt and wheat.
I’m not taking the challenge because I must have coffee, but it’s interesting to watch the people of Mission, B.C., struggle through the challenge. I laughed when a couple rhapsodized about a few sips of coffee after they found a “loophole” in the rules. However, when others freaked over lack of sugar and salt and resorted to raiding beehives and taking home buckets of seawater, I decided the blithe way these reality-show participants entered the challenge is indicative of the real issue facing our agriculture and food industries.
It’s not where our food comes from or how it’s produced, it’s the lack of knowledge the average person has about where their food comes from.
Whether a person eats organic, only locally produced food or nothing unless it comes from a can or box, he or she should understand exactly what is on the table and how it got there. Knowledge is critical to make informed decisions, and before anyone decides to “go local” or eat only organic, she should understand what that really means, as opposed to what she thinks it means.
Otherwise, someone could be as surprised the residents of Mission, BC.
So, would you take the challenge? And if you did, what foods would be off the list?