Are you a Locavore? Locavores seek to eat locally produced foods.

 

 

If carnivores are meat-eaters, what are locavores? Locavores are people who pay attention to where their food comes from and commit to eating local food as much as possible. The great thing about eating local is that it's not an all-or-nothing venture. Any small step you take helps the environment, protects your family's health and supports small farmers in your area.

The first step to being a locavore is to determine what local means for you. This is an individual decision that should feel comfortable for you and your family. Many locavores start by trying to eat within a 100-mile radius from their homes and then adjust where necessary, sometimes encompassing an area as large as an entire state or region. The important thing is that by creating a boundary, no matter how large, you are becoming conscious of food's origin.

 

Becoming a locavore takes real commitment, because we all like the convenience of having whatever food we want available at all times. At Brookshire's, we know that more and more people are seeking local foods, so we point out the local status of items whenever we can. In our produce section, you may see a sign introducing you to the farmers who grew the potatoes you're buying. In the meat market, you may see locally-produced buffalo meat and in the baking goods area, local honey may be spotlighted.

 

If you find it too challenging to become a total locavore, take small steps. Choose five foods in your house that you can buy locally. Rather than trying to source everything locally all at once, try swapping out just five local foods. Likely prospects include apples, root vegetables, lettuce, herbs and greens. In most areas, it's also possible to find meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and cheese—all grown, harvested and produced close to your home.

 

Published 08/08/08