In doing more research, JP and I have become more committed to eating locally grown fruits and vegetables, as well as finding local meats. Although this is a generally expensive endeavor, we have found ways to make it manageable.
One great thing about being in Columbia is we have a number of year round farmers markets. The SC Farmer's Market has a shed open year round, and a lot of the vendors are local farmers. Many times locally grown fruits and veggies can be better than store bought organic, as store bought organic usually is grown and shipped from a different country, so it has to be treated to keep from going bad. As a result, locally grown items generally pass the test just as well (and buying from them lends support to local business owners). The Whaley Street Farmer's Market runs every Saturday and Wednesday. Wil-Moore Farms is a vendor there who has the best eggs. Caw-Caw Farms has a great selection of sausage and pork items (no additives or nitrates in their bacon). There are many other local farms who do seasonal Co-Ops and CSAs, and who offer bulk rates for locally processed, grass fed meat (if you really want to see the difference - go to Earth Fair and look at their meat cooler - the difference is obvious to the naked eye). Although you pay the bulk cost up front, the cost in the long-term is less than if you were buying from the store. This requires a plan for saving the bulk amount, but again, the long-term savings is worth it.
Another thing we have been doing is utilizing local produce stands. There are a number of honor-system produce stands in Irmo that have a good selection of seasonal items (even right now). And the cost of their produce is less than the store bought produce. The difference, though, is that you have to use it right away. Because their not treated with chemicals to preserve them, they go bad quickly (as they are intended to). Once you realize how fast untreated fruits and veggies go bad, it really makes you think twice about what you are eating that keeps them in the traditional store.
As for processed foods - eating whole foods are the only way you can control what products you are taking in. Did you know that mass produced meats are washed with ammonia to kill any bacteria that might be on them? That yummy-looking meat we eat from the grocery store actually has ammonia on it. Ugh. And the veggies are even worse. I bought a regular apple from the store in desperation a couple of weeks ago. I could barely bite into it. The wax on the outside made it difficult to eat. I threw it away - organic and locally grown apples taste so much better - even if they look ugly on the outside.
And that is what I have come to understand - like anything in life that requires being dressed up...there is always more than meets the eye. But with the locally grown and organic items, you get what you see. They are discolored, have bumps and bruises, and maybe a bug here or there (not that I haven't found bugs in my non-organic, not locally grown romaine or spinach - which is why it's important to wash your fruits and veggies before you eat them), but the taste is great. And they are nutritious without being poisonous (for the most part, anyway).
Ok. I'm done now. I need to take a nap and , for some reason, I am hungry for an apple. :)
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