I'm not much of a superfood consumer, but I've always looked a bit longingly at them, be it acai or goji berries or the similarly high-priced options at my local Whole Foods.
Treehugger brings up an issue with many superfoods that perfectly illustrates the quandaries in which you can find yourself when you're attempting to live green. And healthy. Any ethically. And responsible. And so on.
Namely: Plenty of superfoods aren't exactly also local foods. Or seasonal foods. But superfood production often gives a livelihood to impoverished communities in developing nations.
What are we to do?
Well, Planet Green has a post to remind us that some of the more exotic superfoods may be trendy, but the health properties in superfoods can be found in more common foods, grown in many parts of the United States, if that is indeed where you dwell, as I do.
While I am swayed by the opportunity to lend support to making a living for the people in those other countries, it's hard to argue against not only the environmental benefits of local, season foods, but also the fact that our own economy isn't doing so great, and plenty of farm workers in this country need our support too.
I already cook with many of the local superfoods Planet Green mention, but next time I hit the store or the Farmer's Market, I think it's time to buy a beet or a pomegranate or two!
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