There are a lot of great reasons to shift our diets toward organics but if the goal is to reduce greenhouse gases, eating local is more important.

We in Idaho and the Pacific Northwest are blessed with a wide array of foods grown in the Columbia River watershed. All of the major grains, fruits, beef, salmon, chicken, vegetables. Along with famous potatoes Idaho has some of the best sweet onions, great apples, wine, even the barley and hops for making beer.

But today we can get fresh asparagus in the winter from Mexico and Chile. Through remarkable shipping options we can eat all kinds of fresh foods out of season and even in season, some foods from thousands of miles away are easier to get on our tables than those grown right around the corner.

This culinary wonder comes at a cost, an environmental cost, Shipping food around the world creates tons of greenhouse gases. Like so environmental costs those who benefit and those who pay don’t share equally. But as my environmental economics professor used to say in college: “There ain’t no such thing as free lunch.”

Some in Europe are trying to change the system so the true costs are computed. Of course that will mean a tax and that will mean you and I will pay it. Is it worth it?

The European Commission in Brussels thinks so, according to the New York Times . It wants to add shipping to its emissions cap and trade program, which would require shippers to purchase permits to pollute.

Such a program for shipping only makes sense if it changes behavior of both producers and consumers. Idaho has many advantages under current schemes to reduce greenhouse gases.

But the state’s markets in China and elsewhere could dry up if such a program comes here. Idaho has always had to overcome its distances from markets to compete.

However, as Idaho and the Pacific Northwest grow, including British Columbia, the local food market is growing too. Buying and marketing local may become even more important.

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