LocalFoody Blog

?”If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.”
– Carl Sagan

If you don’t have time for that universe inventin’ stuff, pick up some ready-grown apples at your local market and get busy.

Here’s a little guide to help you choose the right kind of apple for your needs:

Cakes, Pies, Crisps/Pudding, Skillet
Northern Spy, Spartan, Empire, Cortland, Gala, Banana gold, Idared

Baking whole
McIntosh, Empire, Spartan, Northern Spy, Jonagold, Mutsu

Sauces
McIntosh, Gala, Empire, Northern Spy, Spartan, Cortland, Gravenstein

Snacks, Salads
McIntosh, Gala, Golden Russet, Red Delicious

I haven’t had the chance to sample every single variety of apple out there, yet, but so far it tastes like a damn fine year for McIntosh.

Not very original, I know, but crisp, juicy, sweet, with a touch of tart.

Michael Pollan answers questions from readers in an interview with Time Magazine.

The End of Food — How the food industry is destroying our food supply — and what you can do about it

By Thomas F. Pawlick

This is the book I had wanted to write after I completed my natural nutrition program. Turns out it was part of the curriculum.

Pawlick, an investigative science journalist and experienced organic farmer, takes a critical look at our current food production practices in North America and blasts our misguided system that places profit over quality and sustainability.

He starts with a story about a single bright red tomato and a simple question that we have all asked: why is it so hard?

This question introduces a fascinating look at incredible industrial farming practices that have left our soil depleted of the nutrients it needs to produce plants of any nutritional value, poisoned water systems, destroyed wildlife, spread disease, ruined rural communities and, I would say, endangered the health of the general public.

The End of Food is informative, scary, sometimes dizzying and downright depressing, but Pawlick is trying to piss us off. Why? Because there’s no reason we need to be doing this. These are man-made problems that began in an era when we didn’t know any better. But we know better now, and Pawlick argues it’s time to do something about it. I agree.

The End of Food is an absolute must-read for anyone interested in the quality of the food they eat.

Keep your eye out for the LocalFoodPlus logo.

LocalFoodPlus is a Canadian non-profit that certifies local sustainable food producers. The LFP stickers and in-store promotional labels help you identify which items are both local and sustainable—meaning they come from the local farmers who use few or no nasty chemicals, treat their animal well, conserve soil and water, and protect wildlife.

Really, these are the good guys. And you want to support them.

LFP got started back in 2006 when they launched a program with U of T that made the university the first on the continent to formally commit to purchasing only locally produced food for their St. George campus cafeterias and residences.

Today they’ve come a long way and have an impressive win-win-win program that helps the farmer, the retailer and the consumer benefit from the growing demand for local & sustainable food.

And while LFP helps shoppers like us identify the super star local food items on store shelves and at markets (hooray for stickers!), the program also helps farmers see the advantage of adopting sustainable production practices, provides 3rd party certification to back up their claim, helps farmers connect with new markets and vendors, and provides promotional marketing through their website and newsletter, as well as in-store differentiation.

Love these guys. Check them out yourself for more info.

A few years old but great insights from this Ted Talk.

Here’s quick update on site development. We have refined out design, with a more sophisticated new logo and site layout. We’ll be rolling out the new look over the next few week – for a preview visit our new Beta signup page. We’re working hard on launching the beta site, and will also be updating the look and feel of this blog in the coming weeks. These are exciting times for us, as we inch closer to our launch. Please sign up for our Beta, and join us as we Help People Find Good Food. Also, please tell us what you think of the new logo in the comments below.

Thanks!

… Prarie Boy, aka Grant MacPherson, and the delectable, juicy, oh-so-sweet, “that’s-why-they-call-it-fruit”, chemical-free, heirloom tomatoes that he and his partner, Lainie, grow on their farm in the Niagara region.

This inspiring couple have been livin’ the LocalFoody dream by working hard and delivering the fruit of their labour to select establishments in Toronto, including Multiple Organics, The Atlantic, Grace, Bohmer, Enoteca Social, Marben and CowBell.

Check out their adventures on Grant’s blog at theveglesstravelled.

Keep ’em coming, Grant!