Where You Can Find Climate-Friendly Food Options

If you are looking for things that you can do to make a better impact on our planet and not contribute to the growing threat of climate change, a climate-conscious diet is a great way to start. However, this is a relatively new trend, which means that not everyone is aware of it or on board with it. Grocers and restaurateurs may not be thinking about the way we eat, as it pertains to the effect it has on our environment.

Maybe you want to try a climate-conscious diet, but you have no idea where to look to get the things you need. Here are a few places you can look to find what you need…

Climate-friendly Supermarkets

There are climate-friendly supermarkets across the country that sell organic, ethically sourced foods. One of the most important features they boast is the lack of refrigeration. The big refrigerators in supermarkets, usually taking up at least four aisles, often use Hydrofluorocarbons as a refrigerant. HFCs are much, much more dangerous and toxic than carbon dioxide. These man-made gases are often referred to as “greenhouse gases”. They are huge contributors to the holes in our ozone layer, which has caused a rise in global warming.

Another thing about those refrigerators is what kind of food they usually hold. You will probably find mostly dairy and processed food, and probably in containers made of plastic. Most things that are organic don’t really need to be refrigerated. So, not only does the refrigerator itself pose a threat to the environment, but the food inside them usually wasn’t produced in a climate-conscious way, and it’s also not a great choice for our bodies.

This is not to say that nothing good can come from the refrigerated aisles, but if you’re having a bit of trouble finding a place to buy climate-friendly food, it could be as easy as avoiding certain parts of the store.

The impact this could have on the environment is when these areas of grocery stores are avoided, thus selling less product, the store may eventually eliminate some of the refrigerators for the lack of need for space to keep refrigerated products they aren’t selling. It may also result in the closure of greenhouses and dairy farms that are harmful to the environment. While it isn’t anyone’s goal to put any dairy farmers out of work, we must remember that most stores don’t sell products from local farmers. These products are from commercial farms, which have always had the opportunity and means to find a more environmentally sustainable way to operate.

Local Farmers

Some of the healthiest, climate-friendly and most delicious produce you will ever find comes from local farmers. If you live in a rural area, you’ve probably seen a roadside stand with fruits and vegetables for sale. They were grown by local farmers, and not only was the production of these foods better for the environment, but they’re probably much cheaper than what you might find at the store, and you get to support a small business at the same time.

Another option is a farmer’s market. Most cities have one every week, on the same day. There, you can find fresh fruits, vegetables, and home-made jams, relishes, etc. These are all guaranteed to be climate-friendly and very likely to be some of the best tasting foods you’ve ever had. You could also take the opportunity to meet local farmers who could give you tips and advice about growing your own food if you were interested. You just can’t go wrong with buying local.