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Loading...Eating for the Planet: Guides for Ethical Food Choices
At the Kelowna Farmers and Crafters Market, the largest farmers’ market in British Columbia, my partner will stand and gaze longingly at a basket of peaches or ruby-red cherries. I try to hustle him away because I generally know the answer to the question he is about to ask the farmer: “Is it organic?” And I know he will shrug and walk away if the answer is “No.”
After years of shopping at this market, I have my favorite vendors. All grow organically, though some are not certified because they are too small-scale to add the cost of paperwork to their operations. They take care of the land, preserve biodiversity, work far too many hours and deliver explosions of flavor via their fruits and vegetables.
They are satisfying the demands of a growing movement of people wanting to navigate the tricky waters of ethical eating. These are people who want to know how producers are treating workers, animals and the planet. They are looking for claims they can trust and food they can safely eat. They often disagree about what is suitable fare and argue over what can be compromised and what cannot.
What they all have in common is a concern for the quality of food and the impacts of our food systems. A 2010 survey looked at ethical claims that mattered most to food shoppers and how their food purchases were influenced by ethical concerns. They found the definitions of “ethical” to be “broad, flexible and often highly personal.”
That means it is not easy to come up with one guide that suits everyone. Ultimately, first-hand knowledge of the people producing our food is the best assurance. However, in our globalized, mechanized world, that is not always possible.
On the next page are some guides that will make food shopping easier, whatever your definition of ethical eating may be. This is a starting point, not an exhaustive list, but each link leads to many others. Feel free to add your own choices in the comments.
Read more: animal welfare, healthy food, local food, real food, social justice, sustainability, sustainable agriculture
Photo 1: Thinkstock; Photo 2 from Natalie Maynor via Flickr Creative Commons
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
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+ add your ownThis is good and useful... but only for Americans, as usual.
Thank you
I have recently found out that the store where I buy my spices and my "candy" bars (more like bars made of fruit, honey and spices with no soy or wheat and no processed sugar) is going out of business in the next couple days. It was an organic store, that didn't sell corn (though many of their products were aimed more at non-meat eats thus had soy in them), and the only one in town. My "candy" bars and my spices are going away, all because of the by-pass that was put in a few years ago. They have slowly been losing business and have finally hit the red.
Nice
thank you
Thank you for the guide
thanks
thanks.
Thank you for the guide. I found it most useful.......whilst munching on my biscuit with Nutella and drinking my minimum 2 cups of morning coffee. p.s. O.K. I admit we do grow our own herbs, veggies and have planted fruit trees in the back yard - for our own consumption.
Interesting article.
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