Nowadays, supermarkets are stocked with food products from around the world. Some individuals are of the opinion that this imported food has a detrimental effect on our economy and culture and it would be better if people ate only the local produce. Certainly, the disadvantages of imported food outweigh the advantages.
On the positive side, transporting food over a long distance gives us a lot of choices. We can taste a variety of fruits and vegetables from all parts of the world. For example, about ten years ago, we hardly saw kiwi fruit, which is from New Zealand. But, now it has a place on every fruit stand. Secondly, many people get employment in this field. Small farmers have a chance to expand globally and it increases the overall economy of the country. Finally, it helps in developing good relations between countries, which helps in international cooperation and peace. When the countries are dependent upon one another's economic success, then armed conflict would be less likely.
On the other hand, importing food can have a negative effect on local culture. This can be seen in countries such as Japan, where imported food has become more popular than traditional, local produce, eroding people's understanding of their own food traditions. Although some would claim that this is a natural part of economic development, in an increasingly global world, I feel strongly that any loss of regional culture would be detrimental.
A second major reason to reduce imports is the environmental cost. Currently, many food imports such as fruit, are transported thousands of miles by road, sea and air, making the product more expensive to buy and increasing pollution from exhaust fumes. Despite the fact that trade in food exports has existed for many years, I am convinced that a reduction would bring significant financial and environmental gains.
In conclusion, I am certain that if people ate locally produced food, it would have environmental benefits. That would also benefit the local economy because, in time, people would prosper commercially as the demand for local and regional produce would remain high resisting the competition from overseas.
Nowadays, supermarkets
are stocked
with
food
products from around the world.
Some
individuals are of the opinion that this imported
food
has a detrimental effect on our economy and culture and it would be better if
people
ate
only
the
local
produce.
Certainly
, the disadvantages of imported
food
outweigh the advantages.
On the
positive
side, transporting
food
over a long distance gives us
a lot of
choices. We can taste a variety of
fruits
and vegetables from all parts of the world.
For example
, about ten years ago, we hardly
saw
kiwi
fruit
, which is from New Zealand.
But
,
now
it has a place on every
fruit
stand.
Secondly
,
many
people
get
employment in this field.
Small
farmers have a chance to expand globally and it increases the
overall
economy of the
country
.
Finally
, it
helps
in developing
good
relations between
countries
, which
helps
in international cooperation and peace. When the
countries
are dependent upon one another's economic success, then armed conflict would be less likely.
On the other hand
, importing
food
can have a
negative
effect on
local
culture. This can be
seen
in
countries
such as Japan, where imported
food
has become more popular than traditional,
local
produce, eroding
people
's understanding of their
own
food
traditions. Although
some
would claim that this is a natural part of economic development, in an
increasingly
global world, I feel
strongly
that any loss of regional culture would be detrimental.
A second major reason to
reduce
imports is the environmental cost.
Currently
,
many
food
imports such as
fruit
,
are transported
thousands of miles by road, sea and air, making the product more expensive to
buy
and increasing pollution from exhaust fumes. Despite the fact that trade in
food
exports has existed for
many
years, I
am convinced
that a reduction would bring significant financial and environmental gains.
In conclusion
, I am certain that if
people
ate
locally
produced
food
, it would have environmental benefits. That would
also
benefit the
local
economy
because
, in time,
people
would prosper
commercially
as the demand for
local
and regional produce would remain high resisting the competition from overseas.