Local products at the farmer's market in Valdivia, southern Chile.
© Marcela Torres
© Marcela Torres
by Marcela Torres
One of the principles of responsible tourism is
to support local economies. How can this be achieved? Easy! By buying products
from the place you visit and demanding tourism companies to also prefer local
producers and restaurants to offer food from the area.
In addition, when doing so you’ll be reducing
your carbon footprint because by preferring local products you will diminish
the amount of energy needed for their transport. Have you thought about how
much it costs to eat Ecuadorian shrimps in Chile, for example? Or Swiss
chocolates? Or Spanish olive oil?
Of course, the idea is not to stop trade
between countries. But when you go to a destination, your visit will be more
meaningful if you contribute to the local economy by consuming products and
foods from the area.
Think about the small producers of traditional
pastries and “chicha” in the Curacavi Valley, for example. Or the dozens of
vineyards that produce top-quality wine in the Maipo Valley. Or the small
farmers that plant quinoa, a cereal that is typical of the high Andes. Or the
wide variety of fish and seafood you can get all along the Chilean coast.
How you choose to spend your money when you
travel is important. Personally, if I go abroad, I don’t look for Chilean food
no matter how much I like it. I always enjoy discovering new dishes made from
typical local products. There’s the magic in traveling! In the possibility of
expanding your horizons, trying new things and letting yourself be amazed by
the diversity and authenticity of the place you visit. And isn’t it even better
if you also help local people?
This entry was originally posted by the author on August 11, 2011.
