Word of the Year: Locavore

The Oxford American Dictionary recently announced "Locavore" as its Word of The Year for 2007. By way of explanation the Oxford University Press blog notes:

The past year saw the popularization of a trend in using locally grown ingredients, taking advantage of seasonally available foodstuffs that can be bought and prepared without the need for extra preservatives.

The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products are more nutritious and taste better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation.

Find out the runners-up HERE.

Thanks Mim!
via NYT LEDE blog

Going Local

A few nice articles about the local food movement have come out recently:

From the Christian Science Monitor: More Restaurants Going Green by Going Local

and an entire section in Plenty (written by my friend Tracie McMillan):
Local Food Movement Hits Urban America which includes...

• Motor City Harvest
• One Stop Shop
• Not Your Average Turnip Truck
• A Zucchini Grows in Brooklyn
• Mapping Out Meals

Foodometer

Watch Your (Fo)odometer is a succinct video explanation of the benefits of eating locally by artist Molly Schwartz. It accompanies an essay on fast food by Donna Schaper on TheNation.com.


Thanks Jessica!