I don't know, but this is something I've been trying.

I figure it's a good thing to support local farmers, and buy my produce, meat and eggs locally from farm stands, and farmers markets. I find the quality is excellent and we have a surprising variety of things. I recall hearing Canada referred to as the frozen wasteland, and I wonder if it surprises any of you to hear that I buy regularly a couple miles from here, things like beans, potatoes, carrots, corn, cabbage, beets, garlic, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, pears, pumpkins, squash, apples, cantaloupe and much more.

I also have this one lady I go to who sells double yolk brown eggs by the flat they are HUGE!!!

We also buy our meat locally, free-range grain-fed poultry and beef. I also eat native game like moose, and elk, and freshwater fish etc that we catch ourselves.

I just can't seem to support imported, shipped things, when we are so plentiful here. I buy inseason, and pretty much the only stuff I get imported is bananas, which are cheap, and pomegranates in the winter.

Lately the costs of certain things are going up, and I don't want to participate....

It's fun to go to market on the weekends, kind of old school, something my grandmother did. You'd be surprised sometimes at the things you can come across.

Try it too.....I'm sure your area has plenty to offer, and I'd be interested to hear what you local agriculture is like.

I recall hearing Canada referred to as the frozen wasteland, and I wonder if it surprises any of you to hear that I buy regularly a couple miles from here, things like beans, potatoes, carrots, corn, cabbage, beets, garlic, cucumbers, peppers, tomatoes, peaches, pears, pumpkins, squash, apples, cantaloupe and much more.

"The frozen wasteland" because the country is huge, and most of the land is wild territories not suitable for men to live well.
90% of Canadians live within 100miles of the Canada/US border if i recall correctly

I also have this one lady I go to who sells double yolk brown eggs by the flat they are HUGE!!!

Ask if she has been feeding her chickens 'roids :D

I figure it's a good thing to support local farmers, and buy my produce, meat and eggs locally from farm stands, and farmers markets.

Why? when i can go to a large supermarket in a town or city to get international varieties of food at all times of the year in the same place.
Perhaps its cheaper, or better tasting...otherwise, i would not bother visiting peach stands or going to Farmer John's house/farm to get a steak.

Why? when i can go to a large supermarket in a town or city to get international varieties of food at all times of the year in the same place.

Perhaps its cheaper, or better tasting...otherwise, i would not bother visiting peach stands or going to Farmer John's house/farm to get a steak.

Huh? I guess you miss the picture........

The are many good markets, and independant butchers. I guess maybe the difference in qualtiy is not important to you.

I would pay more for good local stuff, than a basket of peaches who have been on the road for god knows how long, and picked way before they should be to be shipped. I like know they were picked earlier in the day.....they make a way sweeter pie that way.

I 100% egree with you, Creetwins. It's not only better for quality, it's also better for environment (less transport=less fuel ; plus I can walk to the local shop while I would have to drive to the supermarket), for employment (small shops eventually employ more people than supermarkets), and ultimately it supports a better lifestyle (smaller, more humane organizations).

I also try to buy organic or fair trade products when available.

Creetwins,

Your stance of trying to support businesses that aren't as abusive to this planet is admirable.

I suggest you also look into supporting Citgo, the oil company owned by the state of Venezuala. Its profits are used to help the people of Venezuala improve their living standards and a lot of very progressive programs for the working class and poor in the world.

Right now Castro and Venezualan President Chavez are working on setting up clinics to save the eyesight of 600,000 people on the contienent of North America. 1/4 of these are being reserved for citizens of the USA.

That's one example of what buying Citgo supports; there are many more.

Originally posted by Deepest Red

Right now Castro and Venezualan President Chavez are working on setting up clinics to save the eyesight of 600,000 people on the contienent of North America. 1/4 of these are being reserved for citizens of the USA.

And it is most interesting to note that they are undertaking this program of aid at a time when extremely influential proponents of rightwing ideology and politics in the US are openly advocating that they be assassinated.

a) The irony is OFF the charts.

b) Pat Robertson is the scum of the earth. I have nothing against a citizen who simply states --"I think we should assassinate foreign leaders who possess something that the American Corporate State wants to steal from them!"

I may not agree with that position, but they are perfectly free to hold that opinion. It is when the people making those statements try to pass themself off as some sort of holier-than-thou "religious" person that my gorge rises.