Detox crazes, cookie diets, acai-this-acai-that. It seems like every day there’s a new health movement popping up. With different options and nutrition advice coming from every angle, it can be enough to drive teens into McDonalds’; at least we know the menu there. The most important thing for our bodies, however, is sticking to a simple balanced diet that works. No crazy juice mixtures necessary, just veggies, whole grains, fruits and protein. One realistic movement stands out, however, that not only benefits the body, but also the economy and environment: the local food movement.

             The local food movement started fairly recently, although the concept has been around forever. Anyone have a garden in their back-yard? Yes, that would be local food. Local food is defined as food that has been shipped less than 400 miles from the crop field to the marketplace, but plenty of people only have to step outside to participate. Other than home gardens, local food is abundant at farmers’ markets. Warrenton holds its own such market on Saturday mornings, in the parking lot behind Great Harvest in Old Town. Here, both the farmers and customers are passionate about the whole process, and participate in the local food movement for many reasons.

            “I like to grow things,” farmer James F. Mello said. “Mainly I do it because I love to meet people and talk to people.”

            Mello epitomizes the sense of community felt in the aisles of fresh produce: greeting customers by name, asking about family members. Eating food that is fresh from the ground beneath us is a tangible way to connect with the earth, or as the Mello farm’s motto goes, become “In tune with nature.”

            “I get to be outdoors most of the time” Mello said. “I get to just walk out my door and I’m in my office! I get to make a living, or at least part of one, doing what I love. It’s a way to transform out of normal life and watch things grow.”

            Aside from a sense of connection, Famers Markets have a wide array of food products. Their options expand from small household crops to a myriad of honey and beeswax candles, completely homegrown homemade pies and jams, and even fresh cuts of beef and pork from local farms. Farmer’s Markets aren’t the only option either. Warrenton’s First Friday street fair in October is being sponsored by the Piedmont Environmental Council with the theme of local foods. The event is geared towards bringing local foods to Warrenton teens who may not know what it’s all about. Coincidentally, October is harvest season.

            In this case, tastiness actually matches up with healthiness. Food grown on a smaller scale requires fewer pesticides and oftentimes is completely organic, so ‘locavores’ can enjoy local food without added chemicals or any genetic tweaking. Health of course, is the main reason for any food movement. Junior Jack Wessel realizes the importance of eating right as a member of our Cross Country team, where nutrition is stressed to improve athletic performance.

            “I eat healthy because it makes me feel better. It absolutely shows a difference in my running. [Eating local is important] especially for allergies; local honey is like a natural antibiotic.” Wessel said.

            In addition to great taste and health benefits, many locavores cite a wide array of benefits. Our environment benefits because of the reduction of carbon emissions due to little or no transportation. Furthermore, buying regionally-grown foods helps to stimulate local economies, which are the basis of a strong and stable national economy.

            “The biggest benefit is that [local food] supports local farmers and keeps Fauquier an agricultural community” agriculture teacher Susan Hilleary said. “There are a lot of local farmers who are barely making it, but by buying local foods we cut out the middle man and help support them.”