In modern society, there is a long way for food to transport from producers to our customers. Some people hold a notion that buying local food can alleviate the press of the environment and save money. Although consumers bear the final price, including logistics expenses, it is more likely to have a positive impact on buying food from all over the world.

On the one hand, there is no denying that local farmers can benefit from the vigorous demand of local citizens. Nowadays, there are vast areas of farmlands in rural areas or suburbs around big cities because of the cheap land price. If residents only eat local food, it is very convenient for farmers to transport crops and fruits to local supermarkets through the smooth highway. Farmers no longer transfer food many times and adopt extra anti-decay measures, which allow them to reduce carbon emission and production cost. Therefore, people who live in urban area have a chance to enjoy fresh vegetables at a low price and live a healthy life.

However, I would argue that the drawbacks outweigh these benefits. Local food cannot meet diversity demand of modern people. Controlled by local weather and soil situations, different land is suitable for the different crops. For instance, in China, Shandong Province is famous for its sweet apples, while Jilin Province is proud of its full rice. If people live in Shandong want to eat good rice, and people in Jilin hope to taste fruity apples, they should rely on modern transportation, which boosts the economy of both provinces. More profoundly, they rely on the division of labor system in the current economy. People will no longer eat different high-quality food and even face food shortages if they want to supply all the things by themselves.

In conclusion, the disadvantages of only purchasing local food are more significant than the benefits.