You know you’re a “locavore” when…the local paper does an article about eating locally and you personally know everyone quoted in the article.
The San Diego Union Tribune’s food section this week was dedicated to the “County’s Bounty,” in the form of an article on eating locally by respected beer columnist (and reporter) Pete Rowe. Thanks Pete–I appreciate you and the paper highlighting the bounty that can be found within a short drive of our homes. I also appreciate being mentioned in the same paragraph as sex, power, and money–now if I could only finagle such proximity in my everyday life.
More seriously, I can’t emphasize enough what joy and pleasure seeking out–and subsequently enjoying–local foodstuffs have brought me. I realized this week (and an OLS post to follow will touch more on this) how much I–by default and without thinking–utilize local foods in my daily life. It’s routine to me now–after discovering the quality, coming to meet and know the growers, and respecting the process and effort involved in raising the food I eat, I subconsciously eat local produce, eggs, and what meat and seafood I can find every chance I get. I encourage anyone out there who is considering trying out what San Diego County has to offer to start visiting a farmers’ market once a week–it’s amazing what a regular trip will do to transform your dinner plate.
That said, I’m also not afraid to enjoy game from halfway across the country, especially when I’m one degree of separation from the hunter. For, when it comes down to it, knowing (and trusting) the person who raised your food is what makes eating local special–I think this applies to some degree regardless of the location (especially if its a product not available within your local foodshed). I’m already looking forward to a most generous offer of a just-hunted wild turkey come November. (If only I realized this could have been an option in July).
Tags: eating locally, san + diego