Buy Fresh Produce From Non-EU Countries
Whether for political or personal reasons, some people prefer not to buy produce imported from the 27 member countries of the European Union. Farmers in the EU often receive government subsidies that affect prices in the United States, and imported produce consumes energy in the transportation process. There are a few easy steps that can be taken to avoid buying fresh produce from EU countries. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Check Food Labels
The guidelines of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandate that each piece of food sold in the country must have a label bearing the address of the manufacturer or grower. If the address is not in the United States, the label must clearly indicate the country of origin. All it takes is a quick glance at the label to determine where a piece of produce was grown.
Know the Member Countries
Once the country of origin of a piece of produce is determined, it can easily be discerned whether the fruit or vegetable came from one of the EU's 27 member countries. The EU member countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
Seek Local, Seasonal Produce
It might not always be practical to check the food label of every item in the grocery store. The easiest way to avoid buying produce imported from the European Union is to purchase locally grown, seasonal produce. This might mean dietary adjustments, but it is a sure way to avoid the purchase of foreign-grown produce.
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