Starbucks 'Trenta': How The New Size Compares To Your Stomach
Famous Death Row Last Meals
There is a movement gaining popularity that concerns the way we eat. Some say that we should focus on organics, but this movement says that isn't quite enough. They think that people should eat locally produced and grown products. Exclusively, if possible. Some of the biggest proponents of this movement, the Locavores, are based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
This is a fantastic and do-able plan, admirable in that it supports local businesses and farmers. It still gives you great variety in your diet, too - if you live somewhere where a wide variety of foods are widely available. Some states aren't so lucky. According to the California Farm Bureau Federation, "California produces all of the nation's commercially grown almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, nectarines, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins and walnuts. Its top performing commodities in [terms of] gross sales are dairy products, grapes, nursery products, lettuce, cattle and calves." There are other fruits, like avocados and strawberries that thrive in the golden state like no where else. And this rules out quite a few possibilities for the diets of those who want to eat locally but live in less agriculturally friendly areas. Must people in Chicago forgo artichokes and avocados, asks Barrett in a brilliantly written essay at Too Many Chefs?
The gist of his argument is that people throughout history have been driven to new places and into discovering new cultures all in pursuit of foods: chocolate, tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, oranges, spices, bananas - the list goes on. He's not saying that eating locally is a bad thing, just that there are plenty of good reasons to import foods, from different states or different countries, as well. Read the article. It's a good one.
Jane Seymour's Modest And Modern Style
Broke Stars: 11 Celebrities Who Went Bankrupt
LOOK: Amazing Underwater Photos Of Dogs
Adele Five-Year Break? Singer Plans to Focus on Relationship, Write 'Happy Record'
Social Security Is Failing Even Faster Than We Thought
PHOTOS: How You Can Get The 'Miracle' Dress
Man Says Starbucks Discriminated Against Him Because He Has Half An Arm
Chris Brown, Grammys 2012: Embattled Singer Slams Critics
Janice Dickinson's Outrageous Style
Ford's clever Sports Illustrated Swimsuit ad features phantom model
3 Economic Misconceptions That Need to Die
Photos Of Dead Lacrosse Player's Injured Body Shown To Jury
Trace Adkins Reunites With College Crush, 30 Years Later
Van Gogh's Starry Night modded into beautiful interactive light and sound show (video)
PHOTOS: Model Falls At Dennis Basso Show
'Hooker Teacher' Forced To Resign, Now Can't Find Work
Lauren Scruggs Goes On Ski Vacation
WATCH AND LAUGH: Cops In 2-Hour Standoff With Empty Car
New Clues, Details Emerge In Powell Case
Woman's Dead Fiance Is Behind Her Disappearance: Cops
Stephen Wiltshire Draws Cities From Memory
PHOTOS: Remembering The People's Ballerina
We Meant There WERE Nukes In The Fire
5-12-2006 @12:01PM Yasmin said... Barrett makes a good point, and I think he's right both historically and today... but I do think that the most important effect that groups like the Locavores are doing is getting the public (non-foodies who don't follow these discussions) to start being mindful about where their food comes from, and the effect that agro-business has on our food supply and our health. There is definitely a balance to be struck between the two points of view...(yes, I want to have my cake and eat it too! Is that so wrong?!)
Reply
5-12-2006 @12:54PM BG said... Well, as a grower of almonds and walnuts from California, I would like to encourage all Californians to buy locally grown food. As for you non-Californian's, I agree with the article. You should import all your food, preferably from California. :)
In all honesty, I live in one of the greatest places to tout eating locally, with the enormous selection of foods grown or raised here. Yet, even I wouldn't be willing to give up other great foods from outside my area. We've all grown accustomed to having great selection in out supermarkets, and food has to be imported to maintain that. Some foods just don't grow well outside of their native areas. Why produce an inferior product locally, when you can concentrate on what you grow well, and allow others to do the same?
Reply
5-12-2006 @1:35PM Sparky said... Of course importing items you don't have locally is okay - but buying things that are available locally instead of shipping them in from Guam or somewhere is an idea whose time is long past renewing.
Reply
5-12-2006 @2:51PM kevin said... For those interested in the ethics of food production and consumption this is worth reading:
http://www.salon.com/books/int/2006/05/08/singer/index2.html
Reply