Eating Local and the Underground Farmer's Market

I think a good place to start when introducing a vegan diet to someone who has never really thought about where food comes from is to talk about eating local. I personally believe that a vegan diet is about minimizing the amount of energy it takes to produce the food you eat. While most people insist on eating organic produce, I support local produce. When you buy an organic apple from out of state, the amount of energy that it took to get that apple to you will actually outweigh the benefits of eating organic. When you eat local, you support your community. Time magazine wrote a really great article about this:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1595245-1,00.html

In San Francisco, we are surrounded by farmer's markets and grocery stores that offer local produce. There are multiple markets throughout the city on a weekly basis. While most of them have a wide variety of produce, due to obvious legalities, the amount of home made products are limited beyond soaps. I would like to introduce a new concept that I explored last night. The San Francisco Underground Farmer's market.

Hosted by forageSF, the farmer's market was more like a bake sale or food flea market. They described their event as "helping to get some exposure for all of our fellow producers without the cash for a commercial kitchen." (http://foragesf.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/the-market-is-happening/)

At least 20 vendors were there selling anything from vegan cupcakes to truffles and kombucha to corned beef sandwiches. Some people focused on organic and local more then others. There was a group of people from Oakland that collects honey from urban bees. There was also a woman who had a display of fresh ground spices and herbs. Although limited, there was fresh produce too such as foraged mushrooms including black trumpets and gold chanterelles.

Personally, I was a little frustrated at the bowls of plastic tasting spoons and garbage cans filled with trash, but the concept was great. With a little bit more attention to the environment, I think its a great way to encourage people to explore what their own city can offer while supplying inspiration to people who are just beginning to experiment in their own kitchens. Not only were there plenty of free samples, the people who made them were right there eager to share with you how they made their food.

I want Linnae to start exploring different places to buy food beyond chain grocery stores. There are small Asian markets that have vegan ingredients you have never heard of, and Rainbow Grocery, with the entire half of the store focused on bulk items. There are trips you can take where you pick mushrooms in East Bay or classes on growing backyard produce. Understanding that what you eat has an impact on the environment is the first step I took, and now Linnae will take on becoming a vegan.