Would You Do A Locavore Challenge?

If you were asked to eat only locally for two weeks, could you do it? At first thought it seems pretty manageable, but what about everyday staples such as coffee, chocolate, spices and olive oil?

Chicago’s Green City Market Locavore Challenge started Wednesday – participants pledge to eat only locally (Illinois and surrounding states) grown and produced food for two full weeks. There are many restaurants participating in the challenge who are only serving locally grown foods, some of them are even donating $1 per dish to Green City Market programs and others are hosting special events.

Would you, could you make the pledge to eat only locally for two weeks? Would you need to make any exceptions?

(Image: Flickr member schopie1 licensed for use under Creative Commons)

Comments (5)

Yup, I have an extensive herb garden and I think that would help me through most major withdrawals except for chocolate (since I have over 50 lbs stockpiled in my house... could I still eat that??? *g*). Olive oil is produced in Northern California, in multiple areas, so it still counts as a locavore item in my region.

I think the issue's toughest for chocoholics & coffee drinkers & banana lovers!

posted by Rucy on September 11th 2009 at 3:09pm
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Oh, in a heartbeat. It would give me an excuse to start substituting butter for olive oil :)

posted by belmontmedina on September 11th 2009 at 3:37pm
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It would take a lot of planning to be truly thorough, and frankly I don't think I'd be willing to try--not to that extent. But I could do pretty well for the first part of each week with our nearby farmer's market.

posted by How Green Is My Valley on September 11th 2009 at 3:40pm
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I could with living in the Front Range of Colorado. As it is I have a cow share for raw milk and that dairy supplies a lot more than just milk. I get wheat nearby from a guy that grinds the stuff from his fields into flour. Neighbors a short bike ride away provide meat and produce that I have to call for. There are good resources close to where I live. I was able to do the locavore t-giving last year and only had to forgo cranberries for that.

posted by kmarie on September 12th 2009 at 9:40pm
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Most of my produce and meat are locally grown, but I'm not willing to give up my spices, damnit! I try to buy organically and ethically produced stuff, and I buy it in bulk, so there's a lot less packaging.

Rucy, you're lucky! My herb garden attempts keep dying. Even the mint.

posted by deliriumsama on September 15th 2009 at 10:21am
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