pledge to eat local

October is eat local month and I have pledged to partake in Santa Barbara's Eat Local Challenge. Sponsored by the Santa Barbara Farmers Market, Edible Santa Barbara, and Epicure.sb, the Eat Local Challenge is pretty straightforward: eat 100% locally grown, raised, and prepared foods for the 31 days of October. For this particular challenge, "local" is defined as food originating from no further than 150 miles away from Santa Barbara in all directions. Or in the tri-county area. Or in the state (I think they are a tad bit flexible to encourage participation).

This should be easy, right?

Wrong. Well, maybe. I had not thought this through entirely before signing up, but it means that even my pantry items (beans, grains, flours, oils, beverages, etc) must be local. This will be tough, but not impossible. Thinking about the pantry items I use most - olive oil, ghee, sea salt - this will be a challenge. I know I can get olive oil at the farmers market, but not sure it is actually made within 150 miles. Sea salt? Ghee? Yikes, I don't know about those.

After thinking this through, I have decided to pledge to eat all local foods from my immediate area (less than 150 miles away) except for those impossible to find items, which I will purvey from within the state of California. This should be very doable - and not just for a month, but for as long as anyone would want. We are lucky to have a plethora of locally grown, year-round fruits, vegetables, pastured meats, nuts and seeds, oils, and beans that are always available at the Santa Barbara Farmers Market. Why not eat local all the time?

Not only am I excited to partake in the Eat Local Challenge, but I am also looking forward to all of the food and culture events that are part of Epicure.sb's October Culinary Festival. Ones that I plan to attend include:

Carpinteria's Avocado Festival
Santa Barbara's Harbor & Seafood Festival
CocoVino
Spoon's Lemon Sorbet & Gelato Extravaganza
SB Chefs and Winemakers Dinner Series

So, if you will, join me in pledging to eat local this month and revel in the amazing foods that are available right here in our backyard. Over the course of the month, I will be sharing with all of you my local adventures, recipes, and challenges to eat local all the time.

Wish me luck and check back soon for delectable pictures and experiences.