Eat Here: Reclaiming Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket

by Brian Halweil

Eating locally is a growing movement that is good for your health―but even better for the planet. Everyone everywhere depends increasingly on long-distance food. Since 1961 the tonnage of food shipped between nations has grown fourfold. In the United States, food typically travels between 1,500 and 2,500 miles from farm to plate―as much as 25 percent farther than in 1980. For some, the long-distance food system offers unparalleled choice. But it often runs roughshod over local cuisines, varieties, and agriculture, while consuming staggering amounts of fuel, generating greenhouse gases, eroding the pleasures of face-to-face interactions, and compromising food security. Fortunately, the long-distance food habit is beginning to weaken under the influence of a young, but surging, local-foods movement. From peanut-butter makers in Zimbabwe to pork producers in Germany and rooftop gardeners in Vancouver, entrepreneurial farmers, start-up food businesses, restaurants, supermarkets, and concerned consumers are propelling a revolution that can help restore rural areas, enrich poor nations, and return fresh, delicious, and wholesome food to cities.

Genres: Food, Nonfiction, School, Sustainability

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2004

About the author

Brian Halweil is a senior researcher at the Worldwatch Institute covering issues of food and agriculture. He joined Worldwatch in 1997 as the John Gardner Public Service Fellow from Stanford University, where he had established a student-run organic farm on campus. The farm was community-supported and sold produce to the university and local restaurants. In addition, Brian has set up community-supported farms and organic farms/orchards throughout California and assisted farmers who were making the shift from chemical to organic agriculture.

Brian writes from Sag Harbor, New York, where he and his wife tend a home garden and orchard.

from http://www.worldwatch.org/user/33

Reviews

[BookBec · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wonder, if I had read this when it was published in 2004, would it have been new and informative? In 2016, it seemed the same-old local food arguments plus the liability of dated information. Also, a couple of chapters were poorly edited, which was distracting. What ended up interesting me most was wondering whether any of the example businesses had survived after 12+ years. This book was fine, but if you're new to the subject of eating locally, you'd do better with something published recently, and if you've already read a lot on the subject, you won't necessarily find anything new here.

[Karen Fasimpaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book about local eating that touches on the many reasons that this is a popular choice and includes some interesting case studies on successes around the world with encouraging a more local diet.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I direct you here:

http://graybackmatter.blogspot.com/20...

[Jen Steed Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

From business ethics to personal responsibility, this book is a wealth of information about how we can improve the food industry--and our lives--by eating locally.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book delving deeper into the food and farmer link within the US and around the world. Some good information on the poor farming actions and outlooks by organizations like the World Bank, the IMF, and by agreements like NAFTA. Again it shows that money is ahead of everything, even culture, health, and the environment.

Similar to other books like Omnivore's Dilemma and Fast Food Nation, but with a slightly different angle, so those interested in food books will still find something new.

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

B+ The writing was very smooth and I read this rather quickly (my train commute and 30 min on the cross trainer and a little in the bathtub). It's a lot of interesting information about how the global agriculture business has changed. A little too Western focused, without any options for solutions, and several parts I skimmed, but still, highly informative and useful.

[Marie Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

It may have been published in 2004 but the arguments are as valid and pertinent today as they were 7 years ago. The cited references are a good jumping off point for anyone interested in local foods policy. I encourage anyone interested in the larger implications of their food choices to pick up a copy of this book.

[Julia Bainbridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Know where your food comes from, know the alternatives, take food seriously and think slow, not fast. Let's change the way Americans eat!

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but again, it feels like I've read all this information somewhere else recently.

[Julien · Rating 5 out of 5]

More evidence...