Eating the Chilometro Zero Way in Italy

One of the big appeals of living in Italy is the ultra-fresh food. The vegetables are bigger here, and not because they're genetically modified. I think produce is just happier to grow here!

Let's look at just how fresh food is in Italy.

What is Chilometro Zero?

If you hear this term or see it on a menu, here's what it means. Chilometro Zero refers to food (fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy) that was grown or produced locally.

So, literally, it traveled zero chilometri to get to your plate!

It's the Italian version of farm-to-table, and it's a lifestyle, not a trend.

Why is Chilometro Zero Good for Us?

When you pay attention to where your produce comes from in the U.S., you realize that your bananas traveled thousands of miles from Ecuador or Colombia to end up in your smoothie.

The further away food comes from, the more it ruins the maturing process. Fruit is often picked unripe and may not ripen as it should as it is transported.

Then there's the environmental footprint. Food that has to be transported produces gas emissions that have a negative impact on the environment.

And then there's the lack of flavor. Most Americans don't know what produce and meat should really taste like, because they've been eating imported foods all their lives.

But bite into a tomato picked this morning under the Calabrian sun, and it will change your world.

The practice of buying local food supports local economies. Nearly half (44%) of Italy's land is categorized as agricultural. That means there's no reason to look beyond our borders for most produce, dairy, and meat.

And chilometro zero means you can find local foods that would be too delicate (or that don't produce a ton) to export at your local mercatino.

A Word on Organic

As in the U.S., farmers can obtain a certification if their products are organic. However, it's an expensive process, so a lot of the vendors at your local farmer's market may not go to the trouble. That doesn't mean they don't raise organic products, though!

And if they do use pesticides, know that there are much stricter regulations in Italy than in the U.S. A chemical is restricted or banned if there is a suspected risk to health or the environment, even if scientific proof isn't 100% definitive, whereas in the U.S,. unless a chemical has been proven to cause significant, quantifiable harm, it can be used to deter pests.

The Local Meat Industry

I'm always horrified at the American meat industry and how facilities cram thousands of chickens or pigs in a small space. They're riddled with disease, and they pump the animals full of antibiotics to keep them alive and to make them bigger.

I'm not saying some of this doesn't occur in Italy, but there are, again, stricter regulations about growth hormones and the number of animals permitted in a given space.

And when you eat Chilometro Zero meat, you often know exactly where it comes from. We have a butcher in the family. Gualtiero buys his meat from local families. He also gets paid to butcher the pigs that our family (and others) raise.

We have a small plot of land where my father-in-law raises chickens. That means we always have fresh eggs, and occasionally, there's chicken on the table.

This meat didn't make a long journey to end up on our plate.

Raising Our Own Food

Here, you don't have to be a farmer to raise your own food. Everyone's got at least one piece of land where they have olive or fruit trees, a decent-sized garden, and maybe a few animals.

In addition to the chickens and pig, we have olive, pear, plum, lemon, fig, and cherry trees (jealous much?). In the garden, we grow tomatoes, basil, peppers, and parsley. (I'm experimenting with growing cucamelon this year.)

We share what we have, and we receive ample gifts in return. Every time I visit my in-laws' house, there are cucumbers. Zucchini. Lettuce. Peppers.

There's an abundance of food right here in Italy. No need for a passport.