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Keagan James
Ms. VanderSlik
English 100-15
19 October 2014

The Locavores Dilemma

In Christophe Pelletiers essay The Locavores Dilemma the main focus is about local
foods, and why switching to just producing locally would not be a positive effect on the world
economy. The author goes over the statistics of what would happen if all of the worlds foods
were produced locally rather than transported, and exported to other countries. The essay states
the famine, economic system failure, and lack of decreasing the carbon footprint that locally
producing foods would cause. The author concludes that trading transport of materials of food is
something mankind has always had, and cutting that out of our economy would be an epic
failure.
Throughout the essay Pelletier using different methods to persuade his audience. His
audience is most likely the people that wish to only consume locally produced food and products.
The author uses a strong use of logos throughout the essay. Pelletier is very focused on the
logistics of producing local food, and how illogical it would be at this point in time. British
Columbia produces only 48% of all the food its inhabitants consume (Palletier 703). After he
states this statistic, he goes on the explain why having British Columbia produce their own food
is not a logical thing to do since half of its residents would be forced to starve.
Another method that Palletier uses is ethos. In the essay, he states how locavores claim
that the trend of local food is the way to go, and that it reduces the carbon footprint. He uses
ethos to say how the locavores are not credible and qualified to say that producing food locally

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instead of the vastly know trade system is superior. Palletier uses example of how the locals love
their coffee and chocolate, which are not available in the 100-mile radius that they say they
would prefer all of their food be produced in. The author uses these examples to make the
locavores seem foolish for thinking that the idea of locally producing all of the surrounding
areas food is a worthy thought.
The ethos of the author himself seems very trustworthy. All of his statistics and facts are
credible, and he uses valid reasoning to back them up. His work is published in an argumentative
essay textbook, which is also very credible. His argument is convincing, and he has real evidence
to back up his claim. Even though a majority of the essay is promoting his side of the argument,
he also puts in a valid counterclaim. Also, another reason why the author seems trustworthy is
that he seems to be very knowledgable about the situation. Palletier uses examples from British
Columbia, which is where he lives. This means that the author has real experience with the
situation, and what the locavores are really arguing or saying. The essay is a well written piece of
work that displays the positive ethos of the author.
Palletier uses different sources of persuading his claim. Logos and ethos are two major
tools he uses throughout the essay. The essay is an argument concerning locally grown food, and
if food should just be grown locally rather than transported and exported. Palletier clearly states
his argument that limiting the production of food to a 100-mile radius is not a logical thing to do.
He uses credible examples throughout the essay, and different forms of argument to persuade
you. By the end of the essay, his methods are very effective to persuade a persons thoughts on
locally produced foods.

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Work Cited
Pelletier, Christophe. The Locavores Dilemma. Everythings An Argument/With Readings. 6th
Edition. Andrea A. Lunsford. John J. Ruszkiewicz. Keith Walters. Boston, MA: Bedford St.
Martins Press, 2010. 703-707.