The Farmers' Market

So I mentioned in my last post that my youngest brother had visited. He is fresh from his first year of college and is quite passionate about food politics, an interest I share, though I lack his dedication and extremism. I could blame my more moderate views on my advanced age, but the truth is is that I think I am just as concerned about our nation's food supply and eating habits. I am also concerned with my bank account, but I think that's a non-issue if I shop carefully at my local farmers' markets.

One of the reasons I chose the Sonoma Diet is because I felt it aligned well with my food values. I didn't want to follow a plan that encouraged low-calorie frozen "entrees" and margarine use; I didn't want to be told that Diet Coke or Sweet-N-Low are healthy choices. I love that the Sonoma Diet essentially mandates that I consume whole foods, but I think it's about time to take it to the next level.

So, I unveil my new goal: buy as much as I can at my local farmers' markets. It's summer, and I live in Southern California. I should be able to make this work. I can buy a wide array of produce, cheese, eggs, and even seafood (and I think possibly even meat). Especially with the economy the way it is, it seems all the more important to spend your dollars wisely. Shopping at my local farmers' market (where all of the offerings are "California Certified") is, I think, the very definition of wisdom, as the money I spend stays within my community and goes to something I value. And considering I believe that the "big food" industry is literally destroying the earth and killing people, it seems rather insane to spend my limited funds in support of their wholly unsustainable practice. Yes, I did see Food, Inc. last week. What of it?

In conclusion, I will leave you with a picture of my beautiful lunch-- a salad made from farmers' market heirloom cherry tomatoes (in purple, red, and yellow), lollo rosso, and arugula, with Trader Joe's chicken, feta, pine nuts, and cucumber. In the future, I expect that more of my ingredients will come from the farmers' market.