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international demand increased and prices spiked.
superfoods. Unfortunately, this system rarely lasts long.
Quinoa costs 10 times more than it did a decade ago, which is great for quinoa farmers, but terrible for the people of South America who have fed quinoa to their families since the time of the Incas. Similar problems have arisen with acai berries in the Amazon, goji berries in China, and other locations where exotic superfoods grow. Healthy dietary staples have turned into expensive luxuries. This may account for the rise in malnutrition among children in some of these areas. Avocado Toast Destroys Forests and Causes Droughts. Demand for avocados has created a serious deforestation problem in Mexico as farmers clear away tropical rainforests to make room for their crops. Additionally, avocado trees require tremendous amounts of water. It takes over 70 gallons of water to grow just two or three avocados. In places that suffer periods of drought, like California, avocado plantations have put a big strain on the local water supply. Wildcrafted Maca Root is Almost Extinct in its Native Environment. The conditions in which superfoods are harvested are often appalling. Lands are cleared to make room for plantations and many workers are subjected to near-inhumane working conditions. Wildcrafting is a practice in which these popular crops are instead harvested in their native habitats and locals are paid a fair wage. This is viewed as an ideal compromise in order to meet our demand for exotic
Superfoods became a $177 billion market in 2013, and have continued to flourish. Careful harvesting methods do not sustain such a ravenous industry. Before long, wildcrafting is often replaced with standard farming, which can damage local economies. What’s more, in North America, we’ve wildcrafted local superfoods like echinacea and ginseng to near extinction, and are on track to do the same with maca root in the Andes of Peru. So, what am I supposed to eat? The answer isn’t to abandon all healthy foods and eat cheeseburgers until you die. Most of us could stand to make healthier diet choices. If you really love your exotic treats, see if you can grow it yourself. You can grow kale or beetroot in your own backyard. Trendy superfoods aren’t the only option. More often than not, domestic foods are just as healthy as an exotic superfood. A serving of rice and beans offers more protein than quinoa, while blueberries and strawberries both contain the phytochemicals that make goji berries so healthy. You just may need to eat a little extra oatmeal to supply the protein you would get from maca root. Next time a new superfood sweeps across the internet, don’t get caught up in the hype. We can eat healthy and enjoy tasty foods without harming other people around the world.
F resher , C heaper , T astier The Benefits of Seasonal Eating
The nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables hardly need explaining. These health staples, though, can put a dent in your wallet if you’re not making the right choices at the
protected and temperature-controlled. Eating seasonally means you’ll save a ton on fruits and veggies.
Even better is to cut out the middleman entirely and buy directly from a supplier. In his exceptional cookbook “Six Seasons: A New Way With Vegetables,” Joshua McFadden writes, “The best way to eat with the seasons is to frequent and support local farms, markets, and grocery stores that are doing good things.” The USDA website (ams.usda.gov) has a directory of markets that you can search for by ZIP code. Learning what’s in season at a given time might seem like a daunting task, but there are plenty of tools to help you. You can ask what’s in peak season at the market and what to look forward to in the coming weeks. Apps like Farmstand will also let you know the freshest crops in your area and alert you to deals on produce. Getting the nutritional benefits and great taste of fresh produce doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg. Eat seasonally and locally, and the savings will pile up.
market. One way to feed your family healthy and delicious produce on the cheap is to eat seasonally. Not only will this save you
money, but you will also vary your diet, support local farms, and put the
freshest foods on your table.
Ever wonder why tomatoes cost so much more in December than in July? The answer is simple: shipping distance. Transporting produce long distances is expensive because it needs to be
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