Capturing the Zeitgeist. The New Oxford American Dictionary has unveiled it's 2007 Word of the Year: Locavore! A locavore is someone who strives to eat food grown locally in the belief that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. They also see the practice as environmentally friendly since fuel is not spent shipping food long distances.
"Locavore" was coined by four women in San Francisco who try to eat only foods grown within a 100-mile radius of their homes. While most of us haven't gone to this extreme, there definitely seems to be a growing awareness of the benefits of locallly grown food as well as an upswing in the number and quality of farmers markets.
Interested in learning more about the locavore lifestyle? Here are three books to check out:
Websites to check out:
100 Mile Diet
Locavores
No Impact Man
Has your family tried eating more local foods this year?
Related posts:
No Impact Man
Look! A Real Farm in a Brooklyn Backyard
Eat Local Challenge
(Image: Fall Plowing by Grant Wood)
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On a completely unrelated note, can anybody name that painting? Who created it? My jaw literally dropped when the page loaded. It's gorgeous.
view Speakaboo's profile
Yes, it's Fall Plowing by Grant Wood who is most famous for painting American Gothic.
view CMcB's profile
Thanks! I knew I recognized the style. Had never seen this particular painting of his, before. :) Off to see if I can find a print!
view Speakaboo's profile
Is it really always better to eat local? I'd imagine that it takes less energy to grow and ship bananas from Central America than it would take to grow bananas in San Francisco, or Des Moines. Or should tropical foods be stricken from our diets? I loathe bananas, so I'm fine with that, but my daughter would be be very upset.
view Shawn's profile