What does “local” mean?

In the neighborhood, down the street or across town? Maybe the nearby countryside fits the bill or the afternoon cruise to the mountainous or oceanic regions? Once we determine the meaning of the term, then we can talk about the owner of locality. For example, does the farmer determine her blueberries to be local or does the family at the farmers market? Clearly, both the consumer and producer have a stake in the word and its ambiguous meanings. That being the case, who are we to trust?

After the apocalypse we may find ourselves in a world of genuine transparency. Until peak oil arrives and the overly cheap costs of production and distribution cease to exist, we must continue to challenge the barriers between producer and consumer. This takes the best form when we wear both hats, i.e. growing food in our yards, community gardens and apartment balconies. The link between the making of a good and the consumption of that good will hopefully grow smaller in time. This is to say that the process of making, transporting, packaging, distributing and selling will one day shrink in steps.

To further this potential I am happy to share with you an excellent new resource for food buyers in the state of Oregon. If you own a grocery store or a neighborhood bodega, a boutique restaurant or a local food chain, here is the coolest tool for your business. I introduce to you, Food Hub.

The good people of EcoTrust have brought the food-conscience citizens of Oregon an awesome way to source local food. In this context, local means regional. The website (membership required) provides a craigslist-like formula for buyers and sellers to communicate their needs. For all of us consumers that ask and ask for more local food, this is a great suggestion for the establishment that responds dumbfounded or even frustrated at the request.

There is some bad news though. The goal of the project is to connect producers and sellers, not individuals. Aside from the farmers market and sites like Eat Wild, there is no food hub for households and individuals. For a place like Portland, where large swaths of the population seek local foods, this is clearly a resource in demand. Not all farmer’s markets are equal, therefore it is of greater desire to centralize the local food sources available to people like you and me. Though I’m sure there are some foodie types out there working on a project like this (at least I hope so.)

Withe Spring upon us and the excitement for more sun, more warmth and the fresh foods of the coming seasons, I am eager to source local (Oregon is the line for me) food. In my attempt to write more on local food sources in Portland, consider this the beginning of something meaningful and practical for Good Man Eats!

Related posts:

1. Urban Foraging
2. Immersed in the Northwest (weekly menu 8)
3. “The Portland Meat Collective” (or) The Grass-Fed Manifesto (part 4)
4. Burgerville – Fast Food for Ethical Foodies
5. Food Revolution – One Class at a Time

Tags: Bulk purchase, local food movement, NW cuisine, portland