Thinking locally

So my friend Kirsten pointed me to a place in VA that mills their own flour - Wade's Mill - where I can pay $4 for a 2lb bag of white flour.  I'm sure this is fabulous flour but I use probably 10lbs of flour every other week - the question is do I really want to pay that much for local flour - that doesn't even consider the shipping costs.  The mill is 170 miles from where I live so does that count as a local source?  I could drive out there every other week to pick up my flour but then I'm using my car.  I have my milk and other dairy delivered to my door every week and pay a premium for that but for me, the taste it worth the cost.  My friend at Mommy Porch is becoming more aware about the origins of her food.  I guess my point about the whole local food movement is it's good to a certain point.  I like oranges, they don't grow here but I ordered my batch from FL, to be delivered in Dec.  Does that count as a local food?  Lots of fruit and vegetables don't grow in my area no matter what the time of year, should I not eat them at all?

Most of my childhood was spent living in a house that had a huge vegetable garden, numerous fruit trees, bee hives, etc.  My mother would go to the local slaughter house and pick out her side of beef to be cut to her specifics.  My mother and me and my brother would spend the summer canning, drying and  freezing all the produce.  We only ate what was in season and what we grew.  I am trying to do the same with my vegetable garden, my CSA, picking fruit at the orchards, etc.  I want to be aware but if I want a banana, I'm going to buy a banana.