Shop Local: During and After Bay Area “Shelter-In-Place”
This semester, in line with our mission to promote sustainability and social good, EthiCAL Apparel is focusing on promoting personal sustainability through 4 main pillars: Shop Local, Reuse, Fast Fashion, and Food Waste. The first pillar we will be discussing is shopping locally.
One of the best, most fun, and most self-beneficial ways of practicing personal sustainability is to shop locally. By buying groceries from a local market or producer, you are effectively cutting the carbon footprints associated with delivering food items to your average supermarket. 50% of pollution in the U.S. is caused by industrial sources. Supermarket groceries often travel over 1,500 miles to reach your plate, resulting in massive fuel consumption and air pollution. By shopping locally, you not only reduce transportation waste, you also reduce the need for shipping facilities, packing facilities, and refrigeration. At the same time, buying from local producers positively impacts your local community by supporting local jobs and stimulating the local economy,.
Beyond the environmental and social benefits, local shopping benefits you personally as well. Many local producers keep their products organic, pesticide-free and hormone free. You can enjoy fresh and nutritious produce while simultaneously reducing the amount of toxins and pesticides in the air. There have been numerous studies that also show the health impacts of eating locally. For example, eating raw, local honey is able to strengthen your body’s immune system and reduce allergy symptoms.
Without knowing where to look, finding fresh, locally-sourced produce may be a bit difficult. Around the Berkeley community, there are several great places to shop. Here are some highlights:
- Berkeley Bowl: Probably the most popular local grocery store in the city, Berkeley Bowl sources their organic produce from local farmers and markets in San Francisco and Oakland. They have a large selection of items, so you are sure to find the groceries you’re looking for.
- Berkeley Student Food Collective: Located right on Bancroft Way between Telegraph Ave. and Dana St., the Berkeley Student Food Collective is an extremely convenient place for students to shop for local produce. They are committed to providing environmentally sustainable and ethically produced foods at affordable prices to the greater Berkeley community.
- Yasai Market: This small market tucked down College Ave., right across from Safeway, is the perfect place to find fresh, local, and affordable produce. Most of the produce is picked up daily from the Jack London wholesale market in Oakland. Protip: bring your own jar to fill with very cheap and fresh tofu!
- Farmers markets: Berkeley has several weekly farmers markets that are always fun to browse around!
- South Berkeley Farmers Market: Tuesdays, 2:00PM-6:30PM, located near Ashby Bart
- North Berkeley Farmers Market: Thursdays, 3:00PM-7:00PM, located in Gourmet Ghetto
- Downtown Berkeley Farmers Market: Saturdays, 10:00AM-3:00PM, located near Civic Center Park
The next time you’re thinking about that trip to Safeway, why not opt for your local farmer’s market instead?
Author: Sharon Ye| Editors: Sarah Roberts & Amy Oh | Graphics: Sharon Ye| Team: Social Good
