Local Food Sources

EATING LOCALLY (ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH)

Craft a 2–3-page argument in favor of eating locally sourced food.

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:

• Competency 3: Apply personal and professional decisions based upon an understanding of environmental risks.
  • Discuss specific ways to implement a local diet.
  • Supply several examples of local food sources.
  • Suggest ways to encourage others to eat locally.
  • Describe how to handle food waste in the home.
  • Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
  Competency 4: Communicate effectively in a variety of formats.CONTEXT
• • Write coherently to support a central idea in appropriate format with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics.
  As you consider the topic of local food, take some time to consider food safety issue and the closely related environmental issues of waste and safe living environments. The Assessment 3 Context document provides an overview of these issues. Take time to review this document for key concepts and ideas related to safe food production, safe waste disposal, and safe homes.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER

To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of the business community.

• How could you implement a local diet into your lifestyle?
• Are there farmers’ markets in your area?
• What environmental risks to your food or your home might be involved when you shop in a farmers market?
• Where is the nearest community supported agriculture farm (CSA) to your home?
• How could you encourage others to eat locally?
• What are the ecological and human health concerns associated with agricultural and household pesticides?
• Is the U.S. ethanol fuel program adding to the world food crisis? If so, how? If not, why is that so?
• Do you think irradiation is a safe technology? Do you think labeling should be required on irradiated food?
• What is an example of a green building technique? Do you think it is feasible for most people to use these techniques? How could it be made more accessible to the general public?
• What actions could you take to make your home a safe, healthy home?
• What happens to food waste and solid waste in your home and in your community? Follow the path from home to end point.
• What can be done to minimize food waste in the United States?
• What can be done to minimize the amount of solid waste ending up in our landfills?

RESOURCES

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

The following optional resources are provided to support you in completing the assessment or to provide a helpful context. For additional resources, refer to the Research Resources and Supplemental Resources in the left navigation menu of your courseroom.

ASSESSMENT INSTRUCTIONS

in a 2–3-page report, make a case for eating locally. Address the following in your report:

• Identify the benefits of implementing a local diet.
  • What are the benefits to the environment?
  • How does a local diet conserve natural resources?
  • What are the potential benefits to human health?
• Discuss specific ways in which you could implement a local diet. How could you (or do you) integrate a local diet into your lifestyle?
  • Identify several examples of local food sources you have access to. Are there farmers’ markets in your area?
  • What is community supported agriculture (CSA)? What is the history of the CSA movement? Where is your nearest community supported agriculture farm (CSA)?
• Identify sustainable methods for dealing with food waste in your home. How do you currently handle your family’s food waste?
• Describe ways you could encourage others to eat locally.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Your report should follow a logical structure and be evidence based. Use the APA Paper Template (linked in the Resources under the Required Resources heading) as a resource for citations and formatting.

• Written Communication: Written communication should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Length: The report should be 2–3 pages in content length. Include a separate title page and a separate references page.
• Font and Font Size: Times New Roman, 12-point, double-spaced. Use Microsoft Word.
• APA Formatting: Resources and in-text citations should be formatted according to APA (6th edition) style and formatting.
• Number of Resources: You are required to cite a minimum of 2 scholarly resources. You may conduct independent research for resources and references to support your report. Provide a reference list and in-text citations for all of your resources, using APA format. You may cite texts and authors from the Resources.