Today, it is easier accessing imported products from all around the world. Although this can lead to more carbon emissions due to transportation process and cause harms to local farmers, it also enables people to consume whatever they want, regardless to the current season. Furthermore, more challenging market place leads to decrease of prices.
Trucks, ships and even planes are used in shipment process of products. Although there are some regulations of governments, still large volume of carbon released to the environment during this process. In these times when the effects of global warming are becoming increasingly apparent, both consumers and product owners should be aware of the importance of reducing carbon foot print. Because day by day, with rapidly increasing temperatures, animals are losing their habitats and ecosystems are changing considerably. Moreover, with entering of those imported products to market places, competition is increasing and this can lead decreasing prices of local products. For instance, observations held in a local market place in a small town of Sinop demonstrates that while vegetable prices were between 10-20 Turkish Liras per kilogram in 2010, those prices has seen a massive decrease, by , after 2025. The local farmers also pointed that because of the decreasing prices, they struggle with affording their fuel, equipments and feeds for animals. To avoid reducing of local production, governments must find a balance between importing and producing foods.
On the other hand, residentials of the same town pointed that they didn’t have access to some tropical fruits before 2020s. “We used to conservate tomato sauces every summer, whereas today we have chance to buy tomatoes from any kind of market.” says Görkem Turkut, a resident of the town. Contrary to farmers, consumers are happy with low prices, for sure. “New vegetable and fruit prices are more budget friendly and we have chance to spend rest of the money for something else.” and says Görkem Turkut and adds, “If local farmers are complaining about the new prices, they must find a way to reduce their costs of production. Consumers have right choosing the most qualified one.”.
In conclusion, despite the carbon emission and harm to local farmers, there are large number of advantages importing products from overseas. And governments play a significant role to finding the balance.