Over the last century, food production in industrialized nations has become highly efficient and mechanized. Industries have grown up around food production, preservation, and distribution. These industries have prospered while providing a stable food supply to nations around the globe at relatively affordable prices. Despite its undeniable benefits, mechanized food production has several distinct flaws.

Recent generations believe that the grocery store is a source of food. They have lost knowledge of how to produce food locally, and of the nurturing connection between the human race and the land that nurtures us.The broad food production and distribution networks that support us handle so much food that adequate testing and safeguards are not always possible. This is evidenced by recent bacteria contamination episodes in whole foods.Regional and local economies are often bypassed and diversity in our diets is lost because local food production is often not economically feasibleIt is time to get back to supporting locally grown and produced food resources. We can enrich our understanding of food production by calling local farmers and producers. We can return to gardening and seek out the knowledge of those in our communities with a green thumb to help us begin to produce our own high quality whole foods for our families.

It’s time to go local! Almost every community has farmer’s markets or a food co-op. Recently, some grocery stores have begun to add locally produced foods to a designated area of their stores. Though this does not remedy the problem of children perceiving a grocery store as a food source, it will help make a difference for local food producers. Let’s do what we can to return to locally thriving economies!

Marvin Widrick produces mapleshanty.com/ high quality New York Maple Syrup products for sale on his Web site and locally in Lowville, New York.

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