Ingredients: Organic, Local, Ethical How do you shop?

Question

What is most important to you when buying ingredients?

Freshness? Price?
Do You shop locally? 
Do you buy Organic?
Do you buy fair trade?
Do you know your own growers / producers?
Does it matter to you that the fruit you buy comes from across the globe?
Carbon + travel... do you consider these things when buying? 

if so what items does it matter for?
what percentage of what you buy is based on these consideration?

I find myself often debating between conventional apples from 200 km away, or organic ones from Australian.... I mean what is better for me? what is better for the environment? What tastes better? I have a pretty strict buying guideline I adhere to ... but what about everyone else, is shopping a huge ethical debate for you too?

Answer

I try to buy the best quality food at the best price possible.

Answer

You ask a range of questions and then ask which is most important. I find that impossible to answer as I base my decision on a balance of all of them.

For example, I do buy organic but not if that means shipping it halfway across the world when non-organic produce grown more locally is available. Some items are always imports because we don't have the climate to grow them - here I always try to buy organic or fairtrade. 

Most of time, I work to a basis of buying seasonally available produce or stuff that comes through historical trade routes. And then there's the produce I boycott because of country of origin - my politics to those issues are as important to me as my politics towards the environment.

Answer

I couldn't possibly care less about organic food. And I don't give a toss about health foods in general. Food is one of life's richest pleasures for me, not something to fear and cringe before.

About the only concessions I make to the health craze and other food trends are oat meal, orange juice, 2% milk, and free range eggs. If I were a wealthier man, I'd probably also buy free range meat.

Answer

I buy what looks good to me. I would buy more local stuff if I were in another area. South Florida seems like a wasteland for fresh food.

Answer

This is an interesting subject and a complex one as well. There are a few things I consider when shopping for food, in order of priority: quality of the produce, health, price and origin. I try to combine these factors for most of the produce/items that I buy, although it is not always possible and it is necessary to compromise sometimes. I do believe that buying organic when possible and accessible makes a difference, health-wise and taste-wise. 
It also contributes towards expanding the organic market, increasing production and lowering prices.
To me, eating healthily is not a chore but a pleasure. I enjoy the odd unhealthy treat insofar as it is an occasional occurrence. I spent my teenage years and early twenties eating and feeling rubbish so I can't stand putting junk in my mouth any more. I have developed some sort of defense mechanism against it or maybe a psychological revulsion.
In terms of origin, I try to support local farmers with meat and some fruit and veg but I also make a point of buying Fairtrade imported stuff (such as coffee from Africa and Latin America, chocolate, spices, grains and other ethnic foods) not only because, in many cases, I find the quality far superior to the local varieties but, more importantly, because I am only too aware (as a South American myself) of how essential the revenue from exports is to the local economies and how dependent people's livelihoods are on them.

Answer

It doesn't apply to everything, but I like to buy local, seasonal, ,free range and organic, in that order. I try to avoid stuff that's been flown halfway round the world, but make an exception for bananas and coffee, in which case I like to buy fairtrade. I do like a bargain, but price is not always my first consideration, especially when it comes to chicken and pork.

Answer

I try to buy organic as much as I can. It has to be a good quality of course. I always buy organic chicken , ground beef, milk,veggies and some fruits like apple and others. If I could find good organic food localy I will buy it, but I don't mind the food of other countries either. Also if a produce package mentions, pesticides free I will buy it.

Topics

Locations

Your post has been published!

Ingredients: Organic, Local, Ethical How do you shop?

More from Chowhound

Guides

The Ultimate Spring Produce Guide: What's in Season & How to Use It

Recipe Round-Ups

Quick and Easy Instant Pot Breakfast Recipes for Less Morning Stress

Guides

How to Care for Enameled Cast Iron So It Lasts a Lifetime

Home

The Best Tool to Clean a Wood Cutting Board Is Probably in Your Compost Bin

Trending Discussions

Chowhound Recipes That You are Saving

A Final Goodbye for Chowhound

Favorite Chowhound Memories

NY Times: Chowhound Closes After 25 Years of Food Obsession, Wisdom and Debate

January–April 2022 Baking COTM: DESSERT PERSON by Claire Saffitz

Quick Links

Latest Discussions

Cookbook of the Month

Dish of the Month

Weekly Menu Planning

Get fresh food news delivered to your inbox

12 Irish Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick's Day That Aren’t Corned Beef and Cabbage

Chowhound

Policies

Community

Editorial

Content