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Thanks to vendors like Whole Foods, the organic food movement has become trendy. But if your goal is to be good to the earth, organic may not be good enough.

The key to buying environmentally-friendly produce is to know where your food is coming from. If you buy organic tomatoes shipped from Mexico, you are supporting an organic farmer, but you are also incurring the costs of shipping the tomatoes from Mexico to you. Compare this to the effects of buying locally grown produce that may not be grown organically. Some argue that locally grown trumps organic when it comes to the impact on the earth.

Obviously, locally-grown, organic produce is the best option. Save the earth (and your body) from harmful pesticides and avoid the pollutants from transporting the food.

If your neighborhood grocery store doesn’t carry locally-grown, organic produce, see if your area has a farmer’s market. Not all produce at farmer’s markets is organic or locally-grown, but some will be. Ask the vendors where their produce is grown and with what methods. Most I’ve talked have been more than willing to provide details.

If you can’t find a local farmer’s market, search online for produce delivery services or for a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group. Again, ask specifically about organic vs. locally-grown.

I live in California, so it is easy for me to eat locally-grown, organic produce. I realize it’s not so easy for people who live in less agriculture-friendly environments. Nonetheless, organic vs. locally-grown is an interesting debate. If you want to read more, explore the following links:

• Eating Better Than Organic - Time Magazine
• Should You Go Organic or Locally Grown? - Yahoo Health
• Is It Better To Buy Local or Organic Food? - How Stuff Works

Or if you are interested in learning more about where all your food comes from, not just produce, check out The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan.