Locavore

Locavore Become a in Eugene, OR

We hear that eating local supports the environment, local economies and community members. But, when it comes to the true value of consuming local foods, one thing is unclear: How do you define local? Local is defined differently by different people. Although there is no distinct definition of what “local food” means, locavores define eating local as eating foods that are grown within a hundred-mile radius of your home. Others define local as the specialty organic foods sold at community farmer’s markets.

Eating locally is the same as eating seasonal. Have you ever felt weird enjoying pineapple in the dead of winter? Chances are that pineapple has traveled thousands of miles, burning unnecessary amounts of fossil fuels to get to you. A study done by the Center for Urban Education and Sustainable Agriculture highlights how, on average, meals in the United States travel about 1,500 miles to get from the farm to your plate. It is estimated that for every one kcal energy we get from food, we put 10 kcal of fossil fuel energy into the food system.

Not only are you protecting the environment by eating locally, but you are also uplifting your community. Local foods stimulate your community’s economy. Looking at Eugene, specifically for the manufacturing of goods, there are a few brands that stand out when compared to others.

Let’s compare Dave’s Killer Bread from Whole Foods and locally grown sourdough bread from Big River Breads. Dave’s Killer Bread retails at Whole Foods for $5.29, compared to Big River Breads that I purchased for $5.99. Having bought Dave’s Killer Bread in the past, I was shocked to see that the local version is not that much more expensive. The motto of Dave’s Killer Bread is “Fuel Up with Whole Grains;” In contrast, the motto of Big River Breads is to do what is right for their customers and their community. Big River Bread is a company based out of Corvallis, Oregon. It also has a restaurant that is most well-known for their delicious bread and pastries. According to Big River Breads’ website, one of their values is to be sustainable. They donate their leftover food and bread to local homeless shelters and duck farmers in the surrounding area. When eating Big River Breads, you are feeding yourself something made from pure ingredients and supporting the Eugene community.

The popular dairy-free brand So Delicious is manufactured in Eugene, Oregon. All of their products are sourced organically, vegan and GMO Project certified. So Delicious also uses plantbased plastics and sustainably sourced recycled cardboard for their packaging. In particular, although the source of the coconuts for the coconut milk is not stated online, coconut-based products at So Delicious contain 70-95% organically grown ingredients. Consuming dairy-free products do not support the harmful inorganic large-scale dairy farming culture in the United States. In contrast, Yoplait is owned by one of the “big ten”, General Mills. The “big ten” represents the ten leading companies that own almost every other brand in the grocery store. Disassociating from one brand is difficult because it is likely that the smaller brand is owned by the same larger company. Powerful companies like General Mills, Pepsi and Unilever control the food and beverage industry in most countries.

Another important consideration for supporting local businesses is many young adults are unaware of their purchase power when it comes to food shopping. How and where you chose to spend money can have a direct correlation with whether or not you support large-scale agriculture and farming. If sourcing your groceries is not realistic for you, there are many other ways that you can support eating local in the Eugene area.

As a student at the University of Oregon, you have a great resource at your disposal: the Urban Farm. The Urban Farm is located just off of Franklin Boulevard and Riverfront Parkway. In operation since 1976, the Urban Farm has been used as an outdoor classroom where students learn how to cultivate organic produce, take care of protected land and build a strong sense of community. Urban Farm classes include LA 390: Urban Farm, LA 410/510: Civic Agriculture and the first year interest group Food & the Garden. The Urban Farm is a sanctuary where students can get their hands dirty and learn in a nontraditional way. Another incredible resource for eating local in Eugene is the Lane County Farmers Market. Operating from February to December, the Lane County Farmers Market is the largest in Eugene, providing food from and uplifting over 85 farmers and food artisans. The LCFM is also very accessible, accepting LCFM Market Tokens, WIC checks, Senior Farm Direct vouchers and SNAP/EBT cards.

If cooking is not your forte or don’t have access to a kitchen, you can eat locally by supporting farm-to-table restaurants in your area. Farm-to-table restaurants source their food mainly from local farms where the produce is picked at peak freshness and jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients. The restaurant, farmer and customer often have a symbiotic relationship where they all benefit from each other. The restaurant gets to sell high-end, fresh food while the farmer feels recognized and supported by the restaurant. The consumer gets access to delicious and healthy seasonal meals.

Local farm-to-table spots to check out in Eugene: Cornucopia Restaurant on 17th and Lincoln: a friendly neighborhood spot featuring natural burgers and fun happy hour special. 5th Street Public Market on 296 E 5th Ave: Marché & Le Bar & Provisions Market Hall both source food locally. Café 440 on 440 Coburg Rd: a more high-end spot with carefully selected seasonal plates.

Whatever the reason, buying locally grown food is an incredible way to uplift your community and the people in it. Many find solace in knowing exactly where their food comes from and how it was grown. Others eat locally to help benefit the environment. As the farm-to-table movement continues to grow, consumers grow increasingly concerned with where and how their food is made. Having the choice to purchase and learn about locally grown food is empowering.

If you only take one thing from this article, I want you to be more aware regarding where your food comes from. Take the time to read food labels. Do some research online. Oftentimes, knowledge stems from just asking questions.

WRITTEN BY LAUREN SCHENKER ILLUSTRATED BY BELLA DENTLER DESIGNER EMILY CADENA