We can make changes in the world every day by the simple actions we take. At the grocery store, we could easily grab a fruit or vegetable without a thought, but we could also make this an opportunity to help protect our global environment. By buying local we can support a cleaner healthier world. How?
That pepper in your hand may have come from across the sea. Its delivery may have involved a diesel-powered ship that left a trail of air pollution halfway around the world. Or, it may have come from a state far away. Roughly 90% of all the fresh vegetables consumed in the United States are grown in California’s San Joaquin Valley, according to the Emory University Office of Sustainability Initiatives.
Produce may have been held in a warehouse for several days, where air conditioning operated, thus using more energy, before being trucked to the grocery store. As time passes, fruits and vegetables lose their vitality, crispness, and nutrition. Any state that can produce some of its own food will have fresher fruits and vegetables for residents, and the residents will be better off during times of supply chain disruption.
Obviously, it is important that we keep growing food in New Jersey, the Garden State. If local farmers cannot sell their produce and make a living, more and more farmlands will be converted to housing, sold to warehouse developers, or developed for other purposes. Open green space will be lost, and our state’s ability to provide really fresh, healthy food will be greatly diminished.
Fortunately, New Jersey has the Agriculture Retention and Development Act, which allows the state to purchase farmland easements to prevent overdevelopment of this precious resource. This law (1983) created County Agricultural Development Boards that operate in 18 of 21 NJ counties. These boards work to preserve quality farmland, monitor right-to-farm disputes, and make sure that ordinances and policies are upheld in regard to farm preservation. Education and grant money are offered to farmers to improve their chances of success. Because of this legislation, New Jersey has protected 34% of its agricultural land base, which is the highest percentage in the nation.
Purchasing from farmers markets and grocery stores that carry Jersey Fresh produce is another way to show support for locally grown food. The Jersey Fresh program has a website that shows you where to find local farmers markets. For readers of The Jersey Sierran print edition, the link is listed at the bottom of this article.
While you’re at the farmers market, let them know you hope they go “organic.” This means that only natural growing processes are used, without pesticides and herbicides.
Unfortunately, some fertilizers are made from fossil fuels, which are hazardous to farmers and to consumers. The Emory Office of Sustainability Initiatives states that “as much as 40% of energy used in the food system goes toward the production of artificial fertilizers and pesticides.”
Another concern is that even locally sourced foods can have a large emissions footprint. Animal-based food production causes such a heavy greenhouse gas burden that buying locally sourced meat and dairy can’t fully offset the climate impacts. To really help reduce emissions, “locally produced plant-based diets are the answer.”
Organic Sustainable, Regenerative Agriculture (OSRA), an NJ Department of Agriculture program, educates and assists farmers with becoming organic growers. Telling farmers how important organic produce is to us, as consumers, is another action we can take toward protecting the environment.
As environmentalists, we are fully aware that rising global and local temperatures are affecting our farming. New Jersey’s $1 billion farming industry relies heavily on seasonal and migrant workers during the hottest months, and yet these workers may not have adequate protections. In America, “occupational heat-related mortality is 35 times higher (3.06 per 1 million workers) among agricultural workers compared to workers from other industries,” according to one study. Migrant farmworkers suffer more exposure to the elements, work long hours, and earn relatively low rates of pay. Further, their language barriers may lead to exploitation or unwillingness to assert their rights.
The Farmworkers Support Committee (CATA, El Comite de Apoyo a Los Trabajadores Agricolas) reaches out to farm workers to improve their conditions. Also, the Agricultural Justice Project offers a tool kit for food businesses, farmers, and farmworkers to make agriculture fair and sustainable.
No one should be surprised that New Jersey is one of the top 10 producers of blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes, and cranberries. But in the wintertime, when Jersey cropland is dormant, it may be necessary to find fresh produce from other areas. An alternative is to buy frozen. Many frozen vegetable companies label their products with the origin of their growth. Look for labels that indicate the fruits and vegetables were grown close to New Jersey. In summer and autumn, look for that “Jersey Fresh” label or find your nearest farmers market. Let’s keep agriculture in New Jersey.
Resources:
Jersey Fresh link: https://rb.gy/m78akx
OSRA: https://tinyurl.com/47hhwjev
Agricultural Justice Project: https://tinyurl.com/mw676v7v
Migrant workers’ rights: https://tinyurl.com/3zwyw46h