Going Local, Part Two; Shopping for Local Food

Locally grown and raised food is by far more sustainable than mass-produced, chemically treated factory farm food shipped thousands of miles to your grocery store. Furthermore, food raised without harmful chemicals and pesticides is far healthier for you both in terms of the chemicals that end up in your body and the nutrients you get from the food – both vegetable and animal.

One way to eat more local food is to grow your own, as discussed in Part One.

The second way to eat more local food is to support your local farmers and the stores and markets that stock their products. This allows you to eat better without getting dirty and having to touch worms and slugs and caterpillars and such.

Furthermore, supporting local food producers helps create and keep jobs in your community, both in themselves and in the services they use. Their tax dollars and yours stay in the community as well, and go toward projects that will directly benefit you.

Keeping things local also helps  keep our communities and neighborhoods unique and full of the individual character of the people who live there. Local farms and farmers are more directly dependent on you as the consumer, and are far more willing to listen to your feedback, concerns and suggestions than the big box stores and national or international chains.

On the other hand, though, talking to your local grocery, bakery or butcher about what you would like to see in the store can have a big impact. Asking for more local food, especially if you continue to bring it up, and if your voice is one of many, can result in…more local food in your grocery, bakery or butcher’s. Restaurants are also excellent places to open that dialogue. Local stores or chains tend to respond better and more quickly than larger chains, but it is always beneficial to put your voice out there. It’s a matter of supply and demand. If we demand, they will supply.

A Selection of Local Groceries:

• The Market on Yates (or Millstream) carries local produce, but pay attention because not all their produce is local or organic, and some organic produce is imported.
• Wildfire Bakery (no website. 1517 Quadra St) is an amazing bakery that uses local, organic, heirloom grains and produce.
• Pepper’s Foods carries some local or local and organic produce, as well as dairy, eggs, some meats and fish.
• For Good Measure is a bulk store that supplies some local food, including Babe’s honey, local eggs every Friday, and whole wheat flour made from island grown wheat (not organic, unfortunately, but hey).
• The Village Family Marketplace on Pandora is a new addition to the Victoria scene.
• Planet Organic supplies local produce, dairy and eggs. Although not everything they offer is local, it is all organic.
• Ambrosio Markets have a lot of great local produce, including local nuts. Their webpage is www.ambrosiomarkets.ca, but I can”t get the link to work for me. You might have better luck.

OR

• Find a Farmer’s Market near you.

OR

• Order your groceries for delivery or pick-up through Share Organics or (produce only) Saanich Organics if you live in Saanich or Victoria.