Rediscovering the Flour City
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Across the world, more and more people are discovering the joys of
eating food that is produced locally.
If you're interested in eating
more of your foods within the Rochester, New York region, this website
is for you. |
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Why eat locally?
People have their own reasons for eating locally. For some, it
represents a desire to reduce their carbon footprint, by reducing the
number of miles food has to travel before it reaches their plates.
Some people want to strengthen the local economy by spending their food
dollars with local farmers and food producers. Others like the sense
of community and connection that comes from buying from local vendors.
Others are concerned about exploitative labor practices on farms and
plantations worldwide and want to give their food dollars to producers
who do not engage in such exploitation. Others revel in the
self-sufficiency that comes from growing and storing up your own food,
making your own bread, pasta, and yogurt, etc. Others appreciate the
connection with the natural world that comes from fishing, hunting, and
raising their own animals. Others seek to preserve the world's
biodiversity by sustaining demand for indigenous and heirloom
varieties. Others are concerned about food safety, as our world's
agriculture is increasingly reliant on chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides, and genetically modified seeds. While the food
systems around us are becoming more concentrated, industrialized,
distant, and unhealthy, local eaters are rediscovering the benefits of
the local food community. |
Do I have to change my whole life?
No, you don't have to change your whole life! There are many different ways to be a local eater. Some people simply
want to increase their local food intake a bit. For some people, local
eating is a way of life, and they are dedicated "locavores," committed
to eating only foods raised within a 50- or 100-mile radius of their
homes. Whoever you are, whether a committed locavore or just someone
who's locally curious, there's something here for you. People define
"local" differently, but this website defines "local" as within a
100-mile radius, and highlights local food sources within Monroe
county.
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Who are we?
This website emerged out of anthropology courses taught at Rochester Institute of Technology
by Prof. Christine Kray. We learned that the art of local eating is
necessarily an educational experience, as you have to learn what kinds
of foods are available in the region at different times of the year,
where to find them, how they can be combined into tasty recipes, and
how they can be stored for the longer winter months. We know there is
so much more to be learned about the Rochester food community. We'd
like your help as we continue to build this website, so if you have
suggestions for additions or revisions, please contact us at christinekray @ gmail.com. |
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