[Vanessa, our SF Bay Area editor, is travelling this week to Austin, TX and posting from there...]
It’s easier to Eat Local in Northern California than it is pretty much anywhere in the United States, but here’s a little store that’s pushing the cause in South Austin, Texas.
Farm to Market Grocery, a reference to the state’s naming system for the secondary routes that connect rural areas to the urban core, was opened by two local residents to provide a crucial neighborhood service and to connect the people of Austin to local food purveyors. The tiny store, the only grocery store in the neighborhood, stocks an astounding 4,000 items—over 30% of which are sourced locally.
Flowers from Boggy Creek Farm, Alexander Farm pastured eggs, Brazos Supreme Goat Milk Ice Cream and Pure Luck Cheese share space with necessities like toilet paper and household gadgets like whisks and spatulas. There’s everyday shredded cheese, organic milk, bread from the bakery next door and Texas wine. A narrow shelf of rice noodles and wraps, coconut milk and soy sauce sits across from a display of locally produced agave syrup.
The store is set up so that neighborhood residents can do most of their shopping without getting in their cars and driving to a big box store. And it succeeds to an extent. The store doesn’t have any fresh meats and produce is a definite weak link in the local chain. As the owner told me, once the summer peaches, berries, tomatoes and cucumbers are gone, there’s not much left that’s grown in Texas. Still, it’s heartening to see the Eat Local movement gaining traction everywhere.
Hmm, I'll have to check it out. I'm way up in N. Austin though.
Austin isn't as progressive as North California, but we do have a strong local movement here. I definitely try to buy local when I can.
Here's a rundown on local food in Austin:
You can get a lot of locally produced foods in stores such as Central Market and Whole Foods. Goodflow Juice, Sweet Leaf Iced Tea, cheeses from local dairies, Tom's Tabouley, a place specializing in Ethiopian foods, a place specializing in Toffee Puddings, etc...
We still have a food co-op: Wheatsville Co-Op off of N. Guadalupe street, not far from the University of Texas campus.
Three farmers markets steadily operate around town. Austin Farmer's Market is in a park off of Guadalupe & 4th I believe on Saturdays; they also bring food up to the giant Whole Foods on Weds. Sunset Valley FM is in the Tony Berger Center parking lot off Ben White on Saturdays (this one is my favorite). And Travis County FM operates all week on north Burnet Rd almost year-round.
Oh! I forgot the huge market off of East 290 near Manor. It's more of a flea market (with some suspect goods) but they do have farmers bring in some produce and other foods, too.
Those toffee puddings were amazing! I bought some at Whole Foods while I was there. Austin's cool, I would have loved to have visited Boggy Creek Farm while I was there, but they weren't open any of the days I was around. Thanks for the rundown of markets.
Yes, the sticky toffee puddings at Whole Foods in Austin are made locally and taste amazing! Have you tried their seafood counter? Wowza.