How Is Our Culture Changing The Way We Eat?
How Is Our Culture Changing The Way We Eat?
Marissa Peretz, CONTRIBUTOR
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Photo courtesy of Local Roots
What does the farm of the future look like?
Whether you have landed your dream job or are just starting your career, lunch and dinner provide a way to bond, network, and share wisdom with friends and teammates. Breakfast can offer the same camaraderie, for those of us who wake up before the sun does. Back in college, our schedules were flexible and the nearest farmer’s market was generally within hiking distance.
As we entered the workforce with longer work hours than previous generations and full podcast length commute times, we considered the time it takes to shop in a large grocery store and the limited options of most chain restaurants. We craved easier, healthier, and more sustainable options which is why locally sourced produce and meal delivery services are such a huge trend.
We also know that when we buy food from local sources, it creates jobs and benefits our local economy. So the question is: where are we getting our food?
Dinner in the city fresh from a local, sustainable farm
One trend that has been gaining popularity across the country with a variety of people, including millennials, is locally sourced produce. One way to find local produce is to join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. These services often deliver produce to your door (or to your friend’s door if you decide to split a box). When you reduce the number of steps between when produce is freshly picked and when you place it in your fridge, your food retains more vitamins and minerals.
Some companies even help connect employees with CSAs. “There are CSA programs connected with each of our office locations (Providence (HQ), New York, and San Francisco),” said restaurant management platform Upserve'sVP of Talent, Alaina Restivo. “Through these programs, employees can order fresh produce or dairy from local farms to be delivered right to the office, making it easy to eat healthy at home as well as at work. By supporting these CSAs, we’re able to promote a just and sustainable food system in our communities.”
One option includes Imperfect Produce, a service that delivers fruit and vegetables that did not meet cosmetic standards for grocery stores at a lower price. “I just signed up for bi-weekly deliveries,” said Megan Palmer, Public Relations Director, ZeroCater. “Definitely makes it easier to complete my shopping list but also forces me to switch things up.”
Matt Vail, Founder & COO of Local Roots sees this local trend growing much stronger. His company is a Los Angeles based indoor farming startup that uses shipping containers to create an optimal growing environment for produce and co-locates them with retail distribution centers to produce longer lasting, fresh food.