The “buy local” food movement has a lot to say that’s important. The produce on many grocery store shelves travels an average of 1,500 miles. People in Portland routinely eat foods grown in South America and Asia – some only come from as far as California and Washington . The price for transportation energy is built into the price on the shelf.

 

At the same time, the popularity in our community of farmers' markets is on the rise. A number of environmental groups are pointing out that locally grown foods often taste better, require less transportation energy, and the purchases support local farmers.

 

What isn’t heard as often is the “Drink Local” mantra. Lots of folks – from the New York Times to the U. S. Conference of Mayors – are promoting drinking tap water rather than bottled water. Do we need water from Fiji when we have the cold, clean, constant supply of Bull Run water that comes from forest to faucet every day, all day? Do we need to pay the transportation costs and manufacturing costs of moving water in plastic bottles long distances?

 

I understand convenience. Everyone is busy. That goes for me too. Water is a very healthy alternative to the soft drinks and fruit juices many of us grew up enjoying. I take it to meetings. I carry it on my bike.

 

That said, I’m trying to use recycled bottles. For sure I’m filling those bottles with Bull Run water. Many of the bottles I can refill 16 times for one penny. Hard to beat those prices.

 

Earlier this summer I walked under a Portland Water Bureau banner that said “Watering the Roses Since 1895.” The truth is we’ve been watering the people too – with good, clean water that is cheap.

 

Drink locally. Think globally. It makes sense.

 

Randy Leonard

Commissioner