I appreciate the fact that there is a fruit and vegetable co-op on campus. Really. It’s great to get fresh fruit and vegetables once a week. There’s only one caveat: almost none of it is local. Now I know Connecticut is not the greatest climate for growing avocados, oranges and kiwis, but I don’t think the Wesleyan fruit and vegetable co-op should be getting its food from so far away.
Why? Well, it’d be nice to stop using all of that fossil fuel that’s getting so expensive and ruining the environment. The best way to stop that is to start producing what your local climate can produce, and do it soon. A significant portion of our nation’s fuel consumption goes into transporting foods from California, Mexico and South Africa all the way to our silly little selves.
I admit, it’s a tall order, but there are places in Connecticut to get fresh produce. I firmly believe that the Wesleyan fruit and vegetable co-op should take steps toward sustainability whenever possible. We wouldn’t be getting pomegranates anymore, but we’d be investing in the local economy, stimulating the growth of organic agriculture in Connecticut and reducing our unnecessary consumption of fossil fuels. And yes, I’d be willing to pay a bit more for this.
Who’s with me?
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