George Klimes, a realtor in the College Park area -- pictured here in front of his fig tree -- buys local food in part because he's hoping that, as more people demand this kind of food, it will become more widely available at a more affordable price. In his own words:
"Being a biology major in college, I learned just how dangerous pesticides can be. There still is no real long-term data which shows they're safe. People said DDT was fine. The fact of the matter is, it's now banned. The tendency is for companies to lull the public into thinking products are safe without extensive research. A lot of people turn a blind eye. You have to do a risk analysis, and, in terms of synthetic pesticides, I don't think the benefits outweigh the costs.
"People are getting food that's been sprayed or genetically modified. A lot of people are involuntarily ingesting this stuff. You might say they have a choice, but it's far cheaper to buy regular food at the supermarket, and dollars matter. I grew up in Southeast DC, and I know a lot of lower income people are buying junk food and processed food.
"I started thinking about this when I was 14 years old. I read things. I watched a lot of science shows on PBS. Clearly you could see the trend. Even a 14-year-old could see it. Things like steroids and factory farming of chicken bothered me. I've been a vegetarian for 27 years. Now, I prefer, as much as possible, organic food. I prefer to get it from local sources. I don't necessarily mind having my strawberries not look perfect so long as they're safe. It arrives fresher, and you're supporting the local economy. I don't mind paying a little bit more for that.
"Over time, as the public becomes aware of issues with the regular food, and as larger food producers respond to market pressure, the price of organic will come down. By buying local organics, I get something I think is better. But, with the economies of scale involved, it gets cheaper and cheaper to produce. Healthcare costs will also go down, and our tax dollars won't have to pay for major health problems that are caused by ingesting artificial substances. Ultimately, everybody wins, because they're getting a better product at a price where they can afford it."
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