Eating Locally Costs Too Much?

Eggs, lettuce and tomatoes have been

 subject to recent food safety recalls.
This morning, as I read the New York Times article about eating safely on a budget, I was reminded of a recent conversation with a friend who told me that they don't eat locally because it costs too much.  My response was it depends on how you measure the cost.



Are you comparing the price of the organic cucumbers at the farmers market to the organic cucumbers at the grocery store or the conventional variety?  Yes, the organic is going to cost more than the conventional regardless of where it is sold.  Organic produce requires more labor.



Are you comparing what you pay for fresh food to what you are paying for boxed or canned food.  My experience with the Capital Area Food Bank challenge earlier this year was that the Spanish tortilla and salad I made with fresh food cost about the same as the boxed Chicken Helper meal.  And, the tortilla didn't make me feel sick to my stomach.



Are you including the cost of food spoilage in your comparison?  Since produce from the market is typically picked just days before you buy it, I've found that it last much longer in the crisper than the produce I buy at the store which is often picked weeks in advance, usually ripening in the warehouse.  I very rarely have to throw out produce for spoilage now that I buy it locally.



Are you adding in the cost of any medical bills you are incurring from eating processed food, maybe to treat high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol or diabetes?  We tend to compare grocery store receipt to farmers market tab and aren't thinking about the long term expense of eating processed food.  I wonder how much suffering from E. coli cost Kathleen McCleary (from the New York Times article.)  Clearly she isn't willing to risk being sick like that again.



I am not a doctor or a nutritionist.  I haven't done a formal study.  What I can attest to is my own experience.  I've been eating primarily fresh, mostly local food for 2.5 years.  My food budget has not increased.  I have not had to throw out any food because of a safety recall.



I've gotten to know the farmers, ranchers and food artisans who raise and make my food and I trust them.  I feel good about what I'm eating and what I'm sharing with my loved ones.  I recently made several meals for friends who have a new baby.  I delivered the food with confidence that it is made with fresh, healthy meats and produce; a truly priceless feeling.



So, my question to you is this: How much does not eating locally cost you?