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Buy Local Berkeley educates about the community, environmental and economic benefits of shopping at locally owned, independent businesses. We want to inspire people to shift their spending to Berkeley indies whenever possible.
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Buying Local
in the News |
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Locals and Chains compete for your yogurt dollars
Book explores the potential and challenges of Buying Local
Kermit Lynch to relase CD
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Greetings!
Food. Is. Fun. Especially when you know where it's grown and feel connected to the lovely people who feed you.
That's why buying food locally is so satisfying -- not just for the belly but for the soul.
This month we take you on a whirlwind tour of local food fun in Berkeley. From Farmer's Markets, to actual urban farmers, to a boss directory of restaurants, markets and caterers that support local food growers.
Pick up your fork and get reading! |
| Eat Local Food |
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 Farmers Markets Farmers Markets offer seasonally fresh, nutritious foods where you can meet the growers and get lots of organic options. Buying at at Farmers Markets reduces the shipping distance and the amount of packaging for your food (compared with shopping at traditional grocery stores). Even better, it's a great place to hang out and feel connected to our community.
Berkeley has Four Farmers Markets per week!
Tues. 2-7 pm, Derby Street/MLK (Ecology Center)
Wed. 11-3, Sproul Plaza, Telegraph/Bancroft (ASUC) Thurs. 3-7, Shattuck/Rose (Ecology Center) Sat. 10-3, Center Street/MLK (Ecology Center)
 Gardens If you really want to shorten the distance from farm to fork, grow your own! Learn how to grow your own food at Magic Gardens. Join them for a free class on The Vegetable Garden on Saturday, October 10th at 10 a.m. Learn more about their free Saturday Gardening Workshops.
729 Heinz Avenue
510-644-2351
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| Pickle Policy vs. Economic Policy |
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 Saul's Deli Makes a Change
Peter and Karen, owners of Saul's Delicatessen, used to serve pickles as soon as you sat down. The "Pickles without Question" policy showed a love of pickles so deep you didn't have to ask. Of course, you want pickles!
Now, they've started a new policy of "Pickles by Request."
Why this earth shattering change?
Peter had tired of feeding pickles to his chickens. See, Peter takes Saul's food scraps to his backyard five blocks away. The hens who make the eggs for the Saul's hollandaise sauce enjoy the leftovers.
The waste from the the "Pickles without Question" policy was once a cucumber harvest grown in Mexico. From there the cukes were hauled to LA, where they were cured in mega batches, then trucked to Oakland, and picked up by Saul's twice a week in a fossil-fuel vehicle. All this energy expended only to wind up as chicken feed in a Berkeley backyard?
Hmmm... time for a policy shift: Locally sourced, pesticide-free, artisanal "Pickles by Request."
Peter and Karen love local pickles: fresh, crisp cucumbers grown in Sonoma without pesticides. Truly fermented, with an all-salt brine -- no vinegar. Hand made in small batches.
The new "Pickles by Request" policy has diverted the tens of thousands of dollars spent on transnational pickles into our local pickle economy. Yes, their per pickle costs more than doubled. But the improvement in quality, community and the environment? Priceless.
So far, the new pickle purveyor for Saul's, David Ehreth of Alexander Valley, has created 5 new jobs to keep up with the demands of Saul's customers. But once you taste these pickles, he may have to hire even more!
1475 Shattuck
510-848-3354 |
| Feed Your Mind! |
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 Books on Local Food from Local Booksellers
Feast on this delicious sampling of books from a favorite independent bookstore.
- Coming Home to Eat: The Pleasures and Politics of Local Foods by Gary Paul Nabhan. "The first manifesto of the local food movement, and one of the best-eloquent, bracing, and full of vital information." - Michael Pollan
- Alice Waters and Chez Panisse: The Romantic, Impractical, Often Eccentric, Ultimately Brilliant Making of a Food Revolution
by Thomas McNamee
- The Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters
- Come to the Table: The Slow Food Way of Living, edited by Katrina Heron
- North Bay Farmers Markets Cookbook by Brigitte Moran and Amelia Spilger
Find these and more at University Press Books. If this whets your appetite, enjoy a delicious meal at their Musical Offering and Café.
University Press Books and Musical Offering Cafe
2430 Bancroft Way
510-548-0585
Photo courtesy UPB |
| What About Coffee and Chocolate? |
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 Buying Local Goes Global
More of us understand the importance of sourcing our food locally. When most of our food travels at least 1,500 miles from farm to fork, it's time to take action.
But being "local leaning" doesn't mean that we have to give up bananas and mangos or, heaven forfend, coffee and chocolate. For the things we can't get get from around here, it makes a sense to pay a fair price to the communities and workers who make our favorite delicacies in faraway places.
Fair Trade labels on the things we buy mean that the rights of the producers and workers were protected in the transactions that brought your treat from faraway.
It's key to remember, too, that Fair Trade is a market  driven approach to decrease inequality across nations. That market approach depends upon our consumer demand for Fair Trade products. So, look for the Fair Trade logo when you shop at these Berkeley stores.
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Independent Grocers ... |
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 Know Your Grocers
According to a study by the Bay Area Economic Forum (BAEF), the grocery industry is an important source of high-wage, entry-level jobs in the Bay Area. As a whole, Bay Area grocery workers earned roughly $1.5 billion in wages plus benefits in 2004. In contrast, big box grocers pay wages and benefits that are, on average, more than 40% less than their regional and local competitors.
Knowing your local, independent grocers keeps you close to your food and supports the broader community.
Local Independents
- Berkeley Bowl, 2020 Oregon, 510-843-6929 (family owned)
- Berkeley Natural Grocery Company, 1336 Gilman St, 510-526-2456 (worker owned)
- Monterey Market, 1550 Hopkins St, 510-526-6042 (family owned)
- Star Grocery, 3068 Claremont Ave, 510-652-2490 (family owned)
- The Pasta Shop, 1786 Fourth St, 510-528-1786
- Mi Tierra Grocery, 2082 San Pablo Ave, 510-540-8946
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East Bay Express Presents ... |
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 Taste for Art
This fall, the East Bay Express' Taste for Art party ventures to Berkeley, ground zero for all things delicious and delectable. The event will feature:
- Small plate tastings from celebrated East Bay restaurants
- Beer, wine, and spirit samples
- 35 artist studios exhibiting and selling locally produced art
- Film screenings from the Oakland International Film Festival
- Live acoustic music
- Aerial dance performances, sword fighting demos, live glass blowing
- Three-sided interactive poetry tower
Food and beverage proceeds from the event will benefit Mo Better Food, Oakland International Film Festival, and River of Words, a children's program that teaches environmental literacy through poetry and art.
Friday, October 2, 5-9 pm Sawtooth Building
Eight St./Dwight Way
Suggested Donation: $10 |
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B.Y.O.L.B |
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 Buy Your Own Local Booze
What's good food without a little something special to go with it. For your local sources for the gifts of Bacchus visit these great businesses.
 Wine
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Please, sir, may I have some more?
Locally Yours,
The Buy Local Berkeley Gang |
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