How do we shop for sustainable food? The answers are local, seasonal, and healthy. These are the four pillars of zero-waste eating. You can also find zero-waste shopping options at your local farmers market, urban garden, or solar-powered kitchen. And you don’t have to worry about leftovers anymore! We’ll cover all of these topics and more in Sustainable Food? Great!, and you’ll have some amazing ideas to try in your own kitchen, too!

Healthy

Many benefits of eating sustainable food are well documented, including a lower total cholesterol level, a reduced risk of certain cancers, and improved colon function. Sustainable foods also tend to taste better because they travel less and are picked at their peak freshness. The diets tend to be higher in fruits and vegetables, which are excellent sources of vitamins and nutrients. Sustainable eating practices also help preserve our natural resources and promote the health of the planet.

Safe

In the food industry, two of the most important topics are food safety and sustainability. While consumers generally expect to be able to consume safe, nutritious food, there have been outbreaks of foodborne illness caused by contaminated leafy greens, large-scale berry recalls, and many other issues. These incidents result in the recall of millions of pounds of food. This article examines how food safety and sustainability go hand-in-hand, and what organizations can do to improve their efforts.

Local

Purchasing local, sustainable food is great for the environment and for your wallet. It reduces food waste in the supply chain and supports local farmers. Many local farms use organic practices and well-run conventional farming methods to provide beneficial effects for soils, waterways, and wildlife. For example, you can buy beef from local grass-fed ranches that try to sequester carbon in soil to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from cattle feed.

Seasonal

Eating seasonal foods is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint while still enjoying a delicious, fresh product. Seasonal produce is not shipped across the country, so price fluctuations are minimized. Purchasing local produce also supports local farmers and adds jobs to local economies. Seasonal foods are also more nutritious and are grown locally. They are less likely to be grown in unnatural climates. Read on for some tips to make your eating more environmentally friendly.

Price

A recent Chef’s Collaborative Summit celebrated the success of the sustainable food movement. However, the price of sustainable food remains prohibitive for most consumers. This makes the food available only to affluent consumers, elite restaurants, and idealistic consumers. What should be done to lower the price of sustainable food? In the first place, consumers should look for a sustainable food label. Then, they should seek to buy food from local farmers.