In many countries, more and more people choose to buy imported food rather than food produced locally. Why do people buy imported food? What could be done to encourage people to buy local food?

It is true that the consumption of imported

food

has increased in recent years. There are some factors which help to account for

this

trend, but measures can be implemented to encourage more people to eat

food

which is grown locally. In many countries, people are buying more imported

food

and there are a number of reasons to explain why

this

is happening.

Firstly

, the attractive marketing and presentation of imported

food

products give them an appealing and appetizing appearance. Consumers

then

come to expect certain high standards of packaging, so that

food

looks tasty, safe, hygienic and, in the case of some products, easy to prepare.

Secondly

, the availability of a wide range of imported

food

enables people to vary their diet and experiment with new recipes.

This

may provide a welcome change from eating the same meals every day, which inevitably becomes tedious and no longer stimulates the taste buds. It is possible,

however

, to take steps to encourage the consumption of locally produced

food

. Locally Growers should ensure that their products always look clean and fresh. In Vietnam,

for example

, all the fruit and vegetables, meat and fish on display at local markets must be presented with scrupulously hygienic conditions, protected by plastic wrapping to keep away dust or flies. The government should enforce strict

food

safety regulations. Another measure could be to increase the variety of

food

produced by local farmers, which would

then

eliminate the need to import those foods from other countries.

This

would stimulate the local economy and reduce the environmental costs of transportation known as

food

miles. In conclusion, while some are obvious reasons to explain the rise in popularity of imported

food

, some simple measures should be adopted by local

food

growers to meet

this

challenge.