Long and Short Food-Supply Chains: Mindfulness of where your ingredients come from

Not all ingredients are made equal. Take the lettuce in a salad at a fast food restaurant versus the lettuce at a farmer’s market stand. How many exchanges does the lettuce from the fast food restaurant go through? How long does it take to reach you? And, most importantly in regard to your health, what does it take to preserve that ingredient during its journey? The longer the food supply chain, the more additives are needed to keep the item from expiring, and the more preservatives end up in your food. The shorter the food supply chain, or closer to farm-to-table, the fresher and less loaded with preservatives the ingredients are. Shorter food supply chains typically involve small, local farmers, meaning the soil isn’t over-used, keeping the ingredients rich in micronutrients. Plus, you’re helping support small, local business owners—bonus! Simply put, the shorter the food supply chain, the better it is for your health. 

There are many farmer’s markets that happen in and around Columbus, which is one of the easiest ways to get a short food supply chain. For instance, this year the Clintonville Farmer’s Market is at the Ohio History Center, plus they have an online shopping option. Check out the information here: https://www.clintonvillefarmersmarket.org. 

Best,
Katherine

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652620332522
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