Livin’ la vida local

by duluth, June 23, 2009 | Permalink

Local food is “in.” Those who seek out food that is produced locally even have their own spiffy word: locavore. It’s so spiffy that the Oxford University Press selected locavore as their 2007 word of the year.  It sprang from the keyboard of blogger Jessica Prentice, who derived it from two Latin words that literally mean “one who swallows or devours the place.”

I share that bit of internet history with you because I think it defines the desire of hungry locavores everywhere. They are hungry not only for luscious heirloom tomatoes but for a sense of place, a permanence that our constantly kinetic society lacks.  If your family moved so frequently when you were a child that you have a hard time defining your hometown, then you know what I mean. Food is comfort—a connection.

I was lucky to be raised in the home of two of Georgia’s greatest locavores ever. I’ve touched on this in a prior post, but it bears repeating that my grandmother and mother were persistent in tracking down the freshest products in season.  From them I learned the seasons of food: the first bite of a peach bursting with sweet natural sugar, a pumpkin stout with fibrous orange meat, the plump perfection of a coastal shrimp dipped in a homemade tartar sauce.  I can tell the difference between a Vidalia and a Texas sweet with one bite.  I have been hauled from Dunwoody to Augusta to Hiawassee to Forsyth and back simply to shop for food!

Our Whole Foods Market Johns Creek will save you from that kind of driving. We’re diligent in our commitment to local produce and vendors, and providing you novice locavores with your own food sense of place. This Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm we’re having a special event, “Taste of our South”, that’ll introduce you to some of the best products from Georgia and our local region. You’ll get to meet the nice folks from Ambos Seafood, who’re going to be cooking up those plumply perfect Georgia shrimp.  Our grill will be fired up with brats and franks made with Harris Family Heritage Farms’ grass fed beef from Bluffton and pork from Thompson Farms in Dixie. You can learn how to cook purple sweet potatoes, rub on Organikah’s body butter, and sample the cheesy goodness of Sweet Oven’s rolls.  We’ll have milk and butter from the Jersey cows at Sparkman’s Dairy in Moultrie, the fresh goodness of Canton-based Sweetwater herbal oils, and Ashiki’s Supreme sweet treats made right here in Atlanta. And no, we didn’t forget the wine—or the beer—from Georgia wineries and breweries such as Habersham Wineries or Terrapin Brewing Company.

So whether you were born a locavore or would like to learn more about eating local come in and see us on the 27^th.  Bring your appetite.  There’s never been a better time to “devour the place!”

4 Responses to “Livin’ la vida local”

1. Rita Says:
   June 26th, 2009 at 10:00 am

   Nancy, you never cease to amaze me with your charming Southern wit & insight. Keep up the great writing and WFM updates. It is much appreciated!

2. Patty Cagle Says:
   June 30th, 2009 at 3:34 pm

   Thanks for the internet lesson, I had never hear of the word “locavore”. I love all the great events your store puts on.

3. Territa Jane Says:
   July 3rd, 2009 at 10:29 am

   I’ve heard locavore, but I didn’t realize the word had been around for so long … or where it had come from. Very interesting and informative, once again! Thanks!

4. work at home Says:
   July 12th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

   Neat blog,, will come back soon=D

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