Around this time of year, many Alabamians are starting to satisfy their cravings for the sweet taste of Chilton County peaches. But what about the fresh flavor of say. . . Shelby Co. tomatoes or Bibb Co. strawberries?
In today's increasingly connected world, we have grown apart from our food. You may be surprised to discover that your food has clocked more frequent flyer miles than you have! According to Sustainabletable.org, "a typical carrot has to travel 1,838 miles to reach your dinner table." Locavores, or those who try to eat mostly local food, swear by a diet of fresh, seasonal food. Eating locally grown food will reinvigorate your dinner table with fresh, vibrant flavors while closing the gap between food production and the community.
We have created a display, as well as a brochure to take home, with locavore titles including cookbooks, how-to, memoirs, books on food politics, and DVDs including:
Clean Food by Terry Walters
The Locavore Way by Amy Cotler
The Town that Food Saved by Ben Hewitt
In the Green Kitchen by Alice Waters
American Terroir by Rowan Jacobsen
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
The Pepper Place Market has been a Saturday morning staple of fresh-food lovers for over ten years now. Find other farmers markets, roadside stands, and U-Pick farm operators listed by county at the State of Alabama's Farmers Market Authority.
Have you ever seen a box of fresh veggies on your neighbors doorstep and wondered where it came from? CSA stands for Community-supported Agriculture and it works by letting you buy "shares" from a farm in exchange for produce or other food products. Grow Alabama is a multi-farm CSA offering locally grown vegetables, fruits and eggs delivered to your home, office, or to a central pick-up point near you. Localharvet.org maintains a comprehensive CSA finder here.
Still hungry for locally grown food? Get involved! Birmingham has its own Slow Food Movement convivium, or chapter. The Slow Food Movement is a "global global, grassroots organization with supporters in 150 countries around the world who are linking the pleasure of good food with a commitment to their community and the environment." Visit Slow Food Birmingham to join and view upcoming events.
Locavore foodies in Alabama have documented their tasty journeys from farm to fork in these two blogs: Eating Alabama and Gulf Coast Local Food. Take a look and be inspired to start your own!
Visit us at the Reference Desk for a comprehensive list of locavore titles and websites! For more great food titles, sign up for our monthly Food & Cooking newsletter here!
Amanda
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