One of the more interesting results from this year’s Houston Area Survey was the attitude expressed about locally grown food. From a Houston Tomorrow press release:
An overwhelming majority of Houstonians feel that it is important to be able to buy locally grown food, with 42% responding that it is “very important” and 41% that it is “somewhat important.” Only 16% of Houstonians report that access to locally grown food is not important to them. Rice University sociologist Dr. Stephen Klineberg released the new Houston Area Survey today, revealing these results for a question that he asked this year for the first time.
The local food movement in the 13-county Houston region has been gaining strength following the Food & Sustainable Prosperity conference hosted by Houston Tomorrow in 2008. A broad coalition of nonprofits, government agencies, growers, and engaged citizens meets monthly as the Houston Food Policy Workgroup, hosted by Houston Tomorrow. The mission of the workgroup is to nurture the growth of a sustainable local food system, accessible to all, through education, collaboration, communication, and creation of a food policy council for the Houston region. Interested parties from across the region are welcome to participate.
You can read the full release here. As I’ve mentioned, my wife is the Chair of the Central City Co-op board, so this is near and dear to her heart. She was very happy when I showed her the release. For more information about local food in Houston, visit Central City or Urban Harvest; the Chron had a nice story about one of their more successful projects this past weekend.
I am kind of skeptical about these results. Of the 80+% who say it is very important or somewhat important to buy locally grown food, how many people proceed to go to HEB or Walmart and buy the cheapest thing they can find? Or go to fast-food joints for most meals, etc?
I would much rather have locally grown/produced food, but the biggets problem for me and most of the folks I’ve discussed this with is that it is particularly inconvenient to obtain locally produced items.
We eat a lot of fresh produce at my house, and it isn’t realistic to get up on a Saturday morning to buy a week’s worth of produce. By the time Thursday and Friday roll around, the produce isn’t so fresh anymore. What we end up doing is going to Kroger every and so it is fresh. However, we have begun growing some vegetable ourselves, so I guess that counts.
Great post Charles and encouraging one for Houstonians and Local Farmers! Let’s all do our best to support LOCAL, farm Fresh REAL Food grown the right way by people who care about our Food, health and community!It all starts with us as individuals, we vote with our wallets and forks and with our Palates! Houston, welcome to the Delicious Revolution!
Noel your concern is a valid one and one that is and needs to be addressed. Know that people who care here in Houston are working on Solutions, one that involves CONVENIENCE and also addressing the ‘spoilage’ issue. Kudos to you for embracing more Local food and for growing your own, every lil step counts, we will all get there together over time! 🙂