The Locavore's Dilemma Analysis

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Skyler Sonnier Mr. Benca ENG 102 17 September 2013 An Analysis of “The Locavore’s Dilemma” Christopher Pelletier’s “The Locavore’s Dilemma” appeared on his blog, “The Food Futurist”, in May 2009. In this blog Pelletier aims to convince his readers that the idea of a strictly local diet would simply not work and would cause our current civilization to regress. However, toward the end of his article, he proposes an idea that could incorporate local eating into today’s consumer market. Pelletier studied at the National Agronomic Institute in France and works as a consultant specializing in issues related to all aspects of food production. His blog targets those individuals looking to adapt to the future of food production. Through the use…show more content…
Other than the fact that this movement would ultimately cause famine, it would also cause harm to the environment. Some people believe that eating local would lower the carbon footprint. Pelletier explains, however, that this notion is only partly true. The amount of pollution caused by trading goods is due to the type of transportation being used. Water transport has less environmental impact than transportation by train and even less than transportation by road. Because transportation will be within 100 miles in a local eating community, road transport will be the only source of transport needed, therefore causing more pollution than if countries continued to import goods by boat or…show more content…
By using a mild scare tactic to begin his argument, Pelletier not only captures his readers’ attention, but he forces them to realize what would have to be given up if we were to only eat locally. Many everyday and even essential products would be lost in some communities. If this were not reason enough to reject the locavore movement, he also gives logical reasoning as to why this idea simply would not work. The environment and economy would both experience negative effects. The change in consumption would ultimately lead to famine in many thriving nations. Although Pelletier’s main goal is to discuss the flaws of eating locally, he also strives to present ways in which the idea of local eating could be incorporated in today’s society. By doing this he not only appeals to environmentalist, but to everyday individuals and families with tight budgets as

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