Saturday, July 26, 2008

I was reading a piece about food the other day. The author argued that produce bought locally always tastes best and that we should try and eat what is locally grown rather than what is imported from around the world.

Later that day I found myself at a local chain grocery store. When it comes to fresh fruits and vegetables, I usually try to support small local grocers. However, on my way home from work I do stop here because of its convenience -- it's right next to the sky train sation. I tend to just pick up my staples: a stop at the deli, whole wheat bread and yogurt. Yet, as I walked into the store on Thursday I saw a display of beautiful nectarines. I had picked up some Okanagan nectarines two weeks prior and they had been succulent and delicious. These ones, however, were marked "Product of the USA," and were still hard because they'd been shipped on a semi truck before they were ripe. This disappointed me a little. I'd been excited about these delicious-looking nectarines. I picked a few up anyways, figuring they'd ripe and hope and be just as good.

The next stand I passed was stocked with clamshells of berries. Again, they were marked "Product of the USA," which upset me a little because strawberries are in season here in June and July so we don't need ones shipped from California. I looked in the produce section to see if they had any locally grown strawberries or nectarines. I was saddened to discover that they didn't, and had little to no fresh Canadian produce for sale. I was surprised because I seem to recall this chain store had advertisements not too long ago about how they sell fresh local produce.

The nectarines and strawberries were good. I brought some strawberries for lunch. While I was eating them, I remembered what this author said about locally grown foods. It is true. The Californian strawberries did not taste as good as the local ones -- especially not the six tiny strawberries I found and picked from the flower bed in my front yard!

I'm nowhere near ready to embark on the 100 mile diet, but I will try my best to buy fresh Canadian-grown produce. (Although my economically-minded boyfriend did point out that for reasons of proximity, it can make green sense to buy produce from Washington or Idaho.)

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posted by Vanessa at 10:32 PM


Wednesday, July 02, 2008

I got home just in time.

I had met my friend Cynthia for dinner at this great sushi restaurant on Main. Because of the hot weather today, I wore my cute dress I bought in Victoria and didn't bring a cardigan.

We parted ways shortly before ten. Nightfall had crept over the city prematurely; the sky had become overcast. Despite this, it was still very humid. I walked home against the howling wind, an ordeal made more difficult as sand was blowing up from construction sites and I had to navigate closed sidewalks. I could smell the rain coming, and may have felt a drop here or there with five long blocks left. I hoped the clouds wouldn't crack until I had made it back. After connecting the final street lamp dots I made it up my back steps dry.

Subsequently, brushing my teeth I heard a sound. Looking out the bathroom window I saw steady, moderate rain dancing across the roof of the car parked in the driveway.

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posted by Vanessa at 10:56 PM


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