Why do we expect a variety of produce to be inexpensive and available year-round? Perhaps if the true cost of growing strawberries and tomatoes in the winter time and trucking them thousands of miles were reflected in the cost, people would adjust by eating locally.

By focusing on the span of the growing season and on local consumption, you can make sure that you’re eating smart and supporting your local farmer. Want to know what’s in season right now? That’s easy – just visit the homepage of the National Resources Defense Council. With a quick search, I found a long list of produce available now in Wisconsin or in bordering states including: beets, bunching greens, cabbage, carrots, garlic, horseradish, Jerusalem artichokes, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce mix, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, rutabagas, shallots, spinach, sweet potatoes, turnips, and winter squash.

Sure, I can go to my nearby grocery store and purchase tomatoes for a reasonable price. But those tomatoes were likely shipped from across the country – shouldn’t those food miles be (perhaps substantially) reflected in the cost? And if they were, wouldn’t I be more inclined to make squash soup rather than bruschetta for tonight’s appetizer?

The NRDC notes that, “In the space of a generation, we’ve become accustomed to eating food that’s never grown roots in local soil. In fact, most produce grown in the United States travels an average of 1,500 miles before it gets sold.” Those food miles quickly add up, and they contribute to global warming and air pollution. But what if we noticed those food miles more readily, like in an increase in our grocery bill?

The issue of food prices also ties into an earlier blog post on California’s irrigation problems. If eating local depends on the sustainability of local farms, and if the sustainability of local farms depends on irrigation, perhaps we need to take a hard look at our priorities and our practices.

According to the World Water Forum, farming accounts for 70 percent of the world’s water consumption – and most of its wasteful use. By designing and implementing more efficient irrigation systems, we can address problems related to water shortages and we can continue to support local food consumption. Of course, new irrigation systems cost money. What if the government implemented a tax on non-local food? Such an idea has already been proposed for soda, which could result in hundreds of millions of increased state revenue. Would American taxpayers support it?

“They’re not violent, just desperate. They just want to eat,” Brazilian Army Colonel Fernando Soares said in a recent Reuters article. “The problem is, there is not enough food for everyone.”

Two weeks after a devastating earthquake, Haiti is once again facing a food crisis. During the 2008 hurricane season, 70 percent of the country’s agricultural land was flooded and most of its roads and bridges were destroyed. Not only did Haitians lose most of their corn, bean, and banana harvest, but the lack of infrastructure resulted in pockets of severe food shortages. Over 800 people were killed and 3.3 million needed emergency food support.

Before natural disaster struck the country again this month, Haiti’s food supply was already in a precarious state. The Food and Agriculture Organization had declared the country the most malnourished and poverty-stricken country in the western hemisphere. To complicate matters, Haiti relies heavily on imported food. According to the World Food Programme, 48 percent of national consumed food is imported, 47 percent is produced locally, and food assistance meets the remaining 5 percent of the country’s needs. The earthquake severely damaged ports, roads, and other infrastructure that are critical to distributing food throughout the island.

Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive notes three key problems with food distribution. First, the spontaneity of the aid resulted in cargo planes delivering content that needed to be identified and labeled. Next, officials struggled to unload and store aid. And finally, the shortages of available trucks and sufficient gasoline – coupled with damaged infrastructure – have further hampered distribution efforts.

If food cannot reach Port-au-Prince, will individuals then leave the city in a desperate attempt to survive? An article in Food Safety News warns, “More than one million Haitians may run away from the Port-au-Prince section for the countryside in search of food and clean water, which could further strain struggling farms.” But even in other areas of Haiti where earthquake damage was less severe, how can imported food reach inhabitants?

While these questions are asked in the aftermath of the earthquake, they allude to the fact that Haiti’s insufficient infrastructure and emphasis on imported food has left the country in a perpetually precarious state. To solve this, aid agencies and the government need to do more than repair roads or distribute seeds. They need to create a comprehensive system of drainage canals to prevent future flooding, double the allocated amount in the country’s budget for food production, and change the long-standing practice of exporting textiles in exchange for importing food.

At the start of the new year, Californians have one question on their mind: Will there be enough water in 2010?

The state is now in the middle of its December-through-March wet season. National Public Radio recently reported that California’s first snow survey of the winter showed the Sierra snowpack below normal. Sue Sims, the water department’s chief deputy director, said this may mean that California could face a fourth consecutive year of drought. Last month, California officials announced they expected to release a record-low amount of water to 25 million California residents if this happens — just 5 percent of what has been requested by contractors and farmers.

A year ago, Jim Beck, Kern County Water Agency general manager, told the Western Farm Press that the state was at a turning point. He said, “I think we are currently enduring the worst crisis that water users have ever faced and how we face this crisis over the next two to three years will not only shape agriculture but the whole state’s economy.”

For California farmers, this crisis has pushed them to make some hard decisions. NPR shares the story of Ty and Janet Lompa of California’s Central Valley. Last year, they were forced to cut down 110 acres of walnut orchards, which amounts to approximately 10,000 trees and a third of their entire acreage. “It takes 30 years to get ‘em here,” Janet Lompa noted, “and about a minute and a half to knock ‘em down.”

The Wall Street Journal highlights the story of Harris Farms near Coalinga, California. Last year, they were forced to sideline 9,000 of 11,000 acres that they used to plant with tomatoes, onions, broccoli and other vegetables. “You feel like a general in a battle,” states John Harris, chairman and chief executive of the business. “You’re in constant retreat.” After already reducing production for two years, what will happen to Harris Farms in 2010? Facing another year of drought, how can small farms and big farms alike support the state’s $20 billion-a-year agriculture industry?

It’s a complex question that doesn’t beget a simple answer. While some may push to build more dams, that doesn’t add to the water supply, it just redistributes it. Although California’s Governor has previously declared a state of emergency and enforced water rationing, farmers are still not getting enough water to support their crops. But maybe we’re not asking the right questions.

Robert Glennon notes in the Huffington Post, “In America we traditionally solve water shortages though engineering fixes: dams, canals, diversions, and wells. Seldom do we turn inward and ask whether conservation, reuse, or reallocation would provide easier, cheaper, more environmentally friendly solutions to current shortages.” He suggests that the current crisis should prompt Californians – and all Americans – to examine how, when, and why they use water. But will solutions come soon enough for California farmers?

It was great to open the December issue of PC World magazine and read about Local Dirt.  The local food movement is rapidly growing, and Local Dirt provides a much-needed link between farmers and consumers.  Since Local Dirt is rapidly expanding, we’re adding new users every day.  You can help get the word out to farmers yourself – send a link out onto your local listserv, mention it the next time you visit your local farmer’s market, and tell your friends and family.

We’re happy that the PC World writer mentioned one of our favorite parts of Local Dirt – the email alerts.  Once you’ve registered for the website, you can set alerts to know when your favorite produce is in-season and ready for purchase or when a certain cut of meat is available from an area farmer.  Try it out for yourself today!  Perhaps one of the best new year’s resolutions any of us can make it to help support our local economy.