Emily’s Eat Local Challenge – San Francisco

So, this morning we went to TJ’s to compare the produce there (our usual grocery source but I know, NOT the best for produce) with what we got yesterday at Alemany.

Long story short, there was basically no comparison.  TJ’s produce isn’t as nice or as fresh for the most part, it goes bad pretty quickly we find (though that remains to be seen in a few days’ time with Alemany) and I hate that at TJ’s almost everything comes in those prepackaged plastic containers, meaning you can’t pick your quantity and meaning that you sometimes get one bad tomato which molds and ruins all the others in the package.  I’ve also found things molding in the packages and still on the shelf at TJ’s – I find you have to be really careful to inspect everything.

Here’s some comparison on items we bought at Alemany:

Thai eggplants, $1 for five small
at TJ’s two large eggplants for $2.99

Tomatoes, big huge bag, heirloom and red on the vine, $5.30 for about 2 1/2 lb
at TJs $3.29/lb and not nearly as nice

Green beans (huge ones), $1.50/lb
at TJs $2.69/lb

Ginger root, fresh fist-size chunk, 25 cents
at TJs about double the size for $1.99

Grapes, green and purple, 2lb $3
at Tjs $2.99 for 20oz (1.25lb)

Garlic, $2 (seems like kind of a lot)
at TJs cheaper: 2/$1.69 though a little smaller

Bunch Basil and bunch bok choy, $1.25
at TJs $1.99 bunch baby bok choy

2 Green bell peppers, $1/lb (about 2 peppers)
at TJs $1.99 for 2 peppers

2 Red bell peppers, $1.50/lb (about 2 peppers)
at Tjs $2.99 for 2 peppers

Gallon jug apple juice, $6.25
at Tjs $3.29 for 1/2 gallon jug

Nectarines and Peaches (huge and beautiful), $2/lb
at Tjs $2.99 for 18oz (= 1.125 lb)

Broccoli, $1/bunch
at Tjs $1.69/bunch (shrink wrapped)

Brown mushrooms, $3.85/lb
at Tjs Criminis $1.69 for 1/2lb

5 Oranges $2 ($1/lb)
at Tjs 39c/ea – about same price

Forgot to price the eggs and butter but I’m imagining they’re slightly cheaper at TJs – to be confirmed.

Tonight we made a stir fry with bok choy, shiitakes, and Thai eggplant and had with the fresh ginger (all local) and some Sriracha (not local but I love the stuff) and some black bean sauce (not local but happened to be in my fridge needing to be used) and the local edamame which we boiled for about 4 minutes and put some (non local) sea salt on.  Also had with non local brown rice – I will be checking Rainbow this week for rice that is at least from California if not actually local.

Also, will be following up with a friend who happens to be a rather reknowned expert on local and sustainable fish, for leads on local seafood.

marigolds from Alemany Farmers

First time to the Alemany Farmers’ Market today!

It was really fun, and we found some awesome stuff at good prices.  Also got fleeced on some carrots and potatoes I think.  It will pay to be a more experienced and savvy farmers’ market shopper after a few visits, I’m sure.  I got a ton of produce, greens, starches, fruits, honey, cheese, eggs, peanuts (which I will have to find out how to roast), butter, raisins, kettle corn (ok I’m not sure that the corn was local but honestly, we will probably eat it up before the October challenge even starts!).  Also apple juice and some gorgeous marigolds for the house.

Purchases:
Thai eggplants, $1
Peanuts, $1
Tomatoes, big huge bag, heirloom and red on the vine, $5.30
Zucchini, $1.50
Green beans (huge ones), $1.50/lb
Ginger root, fresh fist-size chunk, 25 cents
Grapes, green and purple, 2lb $3
Carrots and potatoes, medium bag, $12 (ouch)
Garlic, $2 (seems like kind of a lot)
Orange honey, small jar, $2.75
Eggs, dozen jumbo brown, $3.25
Bunch Basil and bunch Bok Choy, $1.25
Edamame, 1/2lb, $2
2 Green bell peppers, $1/lb
2 Red bell peppers, $1.50/lb
Gallon jug apple juice, $6.25
Nectarines (huge and beautiful), $2/lb
Peaches (also huge and beautiful), $2/lb
Scallions $1/bunch
Artichokes (big) $1/ea
Broccoli, $1/bunch
Romaine lettuce, $1/head
Cilantro, $1.30/bunch
Leeks, 3 for $2
1/2lb Raisins (some with stems!) $1.25
Brown mushrooms, $3.85/lb
Shiitake $3/basket
Portobello $5/lb
Sweet potatoes 2lb @ 75cents/lb
5 Oranges $2 ($1/lb)
Limes 3/$1
Lemons 2/$1
Cheese, various types from Petaluma, $11.99/lb
Butter, same Petaluma dairy, $10/lb
Kettle corn, made fresh and super yummy, $2/small bag
Marigolds, $5/bunch

Things I wished I’d found: beans, grains, rice, and milk.  Hopefully I can find these at Rainbow.

Also found: Locally caught red snapper from the fish market next door, 2lb @ $5/lb

Tomorrow I will tag along with Luis to Trader Joe’s (where we usually shop for groceries) and compare their prices on the stuff I bought.  Not that there’s any comparison on the produce, TJ’s produce is usually pretty weak and almost everything comes pre packaged in those annoying plastic boxes.

Yo.  So for this great class I’m taking at CCA called Contemporary Issues, we’re all encouraged to take on a Personal Sustainibility Project.  This concept was created by Act Now in order to make sustainability a more personal matter as opposed to a strictly environmental matter.

I have decided to challenge myself to eat locally for a month, and then take what I learn and incorporate it into my regular routine.  Eating local isn’t a new phenomenon, though it has gained momentum in the last few years.  I find it particularly appropriate to investigate right now as our economy implodes around us and the world gets steadily more polluted by our constant transport of goods including food.

My plan is to research, ask lots of questions, and make best friends with my local farmers’ market and my kitchen.  Luckily I have a good collection of delicious veggie cookbooks and have my trusty 101cookbooks.com, which is an awesome site full of insanely yummy recipes with an emphasis on veggie and local (to bay area) foods.

I hope to help make it a little easier for Bay Area residents to eat local, by sharing the knowledge I gain and by encouraging local grocers to stock locally-grown foods.  I plan to encounter plenty of challenges, and in tackling these challenges I will learn what is feasible (from a time standpoint as well as a cost standpoint) for a busy San Franciscan to incorporate into my routine, and what’s really hard to find/eat local.

My priorities will be thus:

Super yay: Locally grown (within 100 miles) organic items, mostly from the farmers’ market.
Yay: Semi locally (within 250 miles) items from farmers’ market or Rainbow/ Bi Rite/ other local market/ Whole Foods
Meh: Organic, but not local (though ideally west coast) or locally produced foods from non-local ingredients
Boo: Non organic, non local, packaged foods, ie: eating out or slipping back into my diet coke habit.

Wish me luck, and I’d love comments, suggestions, tips, cheerleaders, naysayers, whatever.