"Localvore"

Being aware of the food we intake, and where we get that food is a growing concern these days. More and more food is being shipped in from other countries thousands of miles away. Being concious of that fact and finding foods that are locally grown or produced is a little harder, but can be much more satisfying and healthy.

"Living La Vita Local" was the title of the "Food Fight" that I attended last week. This event was in connection to the common reading "Animal Vegetable Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. The event featured five panelists that would weigh in on their knowledge and perspective of the growing local food movement.

The panelists included: David Ober, a local farmer who raises pigs organically; Liz Gallery, who owns Stone Soup Bistro in Shepherdstown, a restaurant using only fresh and local foods; and Jack Shaw, Shepherd's director of dining services and also Jack was joined by Andrew Manasicaco, one of Shepherd's food suppliers.

Dr. Clarissa Matthews, who is an assistant professor of environmental studies at Shepherd, moderated the event. She asked the panelists questions and introduced ideas to the audience. She introduced the word "localvore," one that lives primarily off of locally produced food products. At the event we dove into the ideas surrounding being and becoming a "localvore."

The panel answered questions posed to them involving what food they use in their buisiness or lives everyday, and how that effects how things go. They were asked what percentage of food the produce or eat is locally grown. It was very interesting to hear the answers.

Fuel prices were taken into effect in the questioning. Everyone realizes that if we do not change how things are done, fuel prices could directly affect the price of the products produced by farmers.

Many people realize that there has been less and less farmers as of late, but people don't realize how quickly farming is declining. I hope that we all can learn to support local farmers and to try to eat more locally overall. In the long run, we will be healthier and our community will be able to thrive more readily.