By: Eddy Badrina, CEO of Eden Green Technology

2020 has been a roller coaster ride of a year so far, and it’s not over yet. Now, more than ever, Americans are paying attention to where our food comes from, how it’s being produced, and what happens between the farm and the table. “Locally grown” has been a buzzword in certain circles for years, but it’s now becoming mainstream. When it comes to fresh vegetables and herbs, the benefits of buying locally grown produce have never been more important.

Today’s consumers aren’t content to purchase whatever is available at the supermarket unless it meets their standards. They’re asking questions and demanding answers. They want to know more about the foods they’re putting in their bodies and the conditions in which they were grown.

However, when consumers talk about locally grown food, it is ambiguous at best, and carries a variety of meanings, some of which are still emerging.  The average consumer probably has a mental picture of tomatoes bought at a farm stand on the side of the road or peaches from the farmers’ market. Meanwhile, they don’t really know or understand how important, or how extensive, locally grown produce is, and how it benefits their health and nutrition in a way that produce flown in from halfway across the country cannot. 

At Eden Green Technology, we are out to change the definition of “locally grown”, expanding it from a mere geographical radius and an ambiguous qualifier, to something that really explains and clarifies the importance to consumers. The definition of “local” and “locally grown” has to adapt and evolve to fit what really matters to consumers. We believe “local” ought to mean three basic concepts: accountable, safe, and accessible. 

“Local” Means Accountable

There’s an entire supply chain to consider when you’re talking about any sort of goods, but it takes on greater importance where food is concerned. Along this chain is the farmer, supplier, distributor, and seller, and each stage has its own procedures and regulations. 

When your produce is grown half a world away, it’s hard to trust the process. It’s also hard to know what sort of conditions and handling your food has experienced. You want to know that each person who has had a hand in your food is more interested in quality than in padding the bottom line. 

National brands, or imported ones, are far removed from the end consumer. Those making decisions about the growing process may not even have an agricultural background or ever set foot on the farms themselves. They may be approaching food production from a dollars-and-cents perspective, maximizing profit at the expense of quality. 

In the age of COVID-19, consumers have more questions and they want answers fast. When food is produced in local greenhouses or fields, those answers are far easier to come by. Local regulations tend to reflect the needs and values of the community. When your food is grown nearby, you may even know some of the people who had a hand in its production. 

“Local” Means Safe

COVID has greatly exposed some serious flaws in our food supply chain. We’ve seen recalls on onions, meat, seafood, and citrus among other foods. Yet there was a steep decline in the total number of recalls reported this year. This is not because our food has suddenly gotten safer. 

The real reasons for this decline are far more complex. The FDA paused its inspection process for several months. Doctors, hospitals, and health departments are busy fighting the pandemic and not reporting food-borne illnesses as quickly. Patients are less likely to seek medical help for food poisoning because they fear catching COVID at the doctor’s office. Our public health infrastructure has been unable to protect food workers, leading to outbreaks in meatpacking plants and elsewhere. All of this has led to delayed outbreak communication and reporting.

Fortunately, local food tends to be safer. This is because when food is brought into your community from elsewhere, it has to pass through more hands. This means a greater chance of contamination. Not only that, local farmers can’t hide behind the anonymity of a large brand. They have a vested interest in providing safe, high-quality food to the community they live in.

“Local” Means Accessible

Food insecurity has been a major problem in our society for a long time. In 2018, it was estimated that over 37 million people were facing daily hunger and food insecurity. In the age of Coronavirus, that number is likely to skyrocket. For families who are unsure how they’re going to afford their next meal, local food may be a big part of the answer. 

A shorter supply chain in food production means greater consistency of supply with less risk of disruption. When your produce is grown in local greenhouses, there’s no worry about a storm or drought on the other side of the country destroying crops. There’s no spoilage during shipping and no chance of shipping delays causing supply disruption. 

When crops are not subject to these types of loss, pricing can remain more constant and consumers can be assured that the food they need will be available when they go to the store. Further, crops that don’t have to be shipped across several states or countries have fewer middlemen taking a cut of the price. This means grocers can sell local food for a much lower price. 

Urban centers across the country have become food deserts — places where fresh foods are not available in the immediate area. Those who live in these neighborhoods make do with processed foods or fast food, which is not the healthiest or most cost-effective way of feeding a family. Vertical greenhouses can be placed in areas with little space available, making local food a reality where it was once only a dream.

While local food once meant simply food grown in a specific geographical area, the term has come to encompass so much more. The definition is changing because consumers are becoming savvier. They’re asking questions and demanding answers. Americans are demanding solutions for supply chain problems exposed by the pandemic.

Once COVID-19 is brought under control, the food supply chain that emerges must be better than we’ve had in recent years. We must have food that is accountable, safe, and accessible. Local food is the solution to these demands and more.