Kevin & I have decided to become locavores. Here's a definition for you (thanks wikipedia!):
A locavore is one who supports the collaborative effort to build more locally based, self-reliant food economies - one in which sustainable food production, processing, distribution, and consumption is integrated to enhance the economic, environmental and social health of a particular place.
What it means to be a locavore in a place like this is that, though we're for the most part thankful the Sam Walton has made his mark even here, we shun ol' Wally World's produce section for the friendly (and usually bored) individuals that sell fruits & veggies out of tiny shops or even out of the back of carts pulled by bicycles or motorcycles. There are at least a dozen vendors located about a five minute walk from our house, which makes it great for last minute meal planning.
Here is a case in point of why I love being a locavore:
I now own a crockpot (thanks to our local e-bay!). I wanted to make vegetable soup, so I went down to our local veggie shop and loaded up on soup fixings. Once weighed, the lady told me the price of my veggies: 86. What? That's over $10! I know I bought a lot of stuff but still...
Sigh. I had only intended to pay her with a 10 bill but handed her a 100 bill instead. As I'm wondering if I'm being taken advantage of because of my white face, I realize that the change she's counting into my hand keeps coming...and coming...and coming.
Then that number lesson I should have paid better attention to dawns on me...she said 8.6, not 86. Oh yeah. Gotta love those decimals!
Tonight was another happy night to be a locavore. For a little over two dollars, tonight I brought home six apples, five bananas, one pineapple (peeled and everything!), one tomato, three carrots, and some oily bread that Kevin likes.
What makes it even better is that I can now identify myself with the word that won Oxford Dictionary's Word of the Year award in 2007. If you don't believe me, click here.
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5 comments:
I know you're all about grammar, but really...keeping up with the Word of the Year award... craziness! Just wait, until you've lived here for a year or two. You'll be thankful you can remember how to say 'market' in English. There's no hope for locavore sticking! :)
We don't eat the Wally World produce here either. It rots within a couple of days. Fresh from the farmer always the best rather here or there. Love you
See B, you don't even need to be a part of a co-op. All of your wildest produce dreams have been fulfilled in the little carts in the alley.
Aggg! My word verification is "venom" Creepy
Your story is funny. I'll bet that little fruit lady was thinking to herself (as she counted back your change), "Why doesn't this rich lady just shop at Wal-Mart?"
I'm considering joining our lo-co-op (since I will have kitchen appliences in no less than four weeks!!!). The last time I went to the store, I paid 80c for an orange, and then, it wasn't even that good. Such is life.
haha...that's funny! we don't really use decimals down south. we say "ba kuai liu" instead of "ba dian liu." you crazy northerners!!
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