wow!! I do. even though driving from nyc to nola is not exactly the most relaxing way to journey down south, I am in desperate need of this trip. the chance to reconnect with one of my amazing girlfriends on the drive down, and then another long lost friend during the trip is (bio) fueling my excitement.

I am also in need of some of my mom’s famous gumbo and sarcasm, my granny’s fried chicken and yattitude, and a crawfish boil that my dad will put all his magic touches on. yeah, this trip is very food related. but how could it not be? I am from new orleans. we spend lunch thinking about dinner, and our family conversations are played around long, lingering meals.

I will definitely be adhering more to a local food mindset during this trip, as most of my comfort foods are not among the organic variety. so that leads me to the burning question– which is better for sustainability?

local   or   organic??

on the one hand, organic is better for the planet and it’s people because it means no pesticides, less toxins in the environment, land and food. water quality is maintained at a higher level, small farmers are kept in business, organic farms preserve biodiversity, and help to keep our rural lands healthier.

now, the local food movement strives to preserve foods indigenous to the region, locally farmed and produced, with less transport and less use of petroleum fueled vehicles to get it from farm to table. this not only sustains quality of product and absolute freshness, but it also minimizes the impact and reliance on oil. most local producers are typically in search of an organic certification, but they have not fully realized the criteria for certification.

I have been an organic foodie for most of my life, so I see the need to keep things pure, simple and untainted; however, I know that getting trout from my dad’s day of fishing a few miles down the road, simply just taste better than the organic ones flown in from china. and the mirlitons (chayote to everyone else in the universe) that my granny grew in the back yard are far superior to the mexican ones in the store.

I have really been fixed on this issue lately and I would love to hear your opinions in the matter. I feel a healthy balance is necessary, but I find that I purchase organic 9 times out of 10. so organic feels healthier for me, but what about for the planet?

see what I mean?? I need a long roadtrip just to figure this one out.

namaste.