Locally Grown Becomes Chic

New Oxford American Dictionary has just named “Locavore” as the 2007 Word of the Year.

Anyone who is boycotting bananas or ostracizing olive oil might have a handle on the concept of being a locavore.The term, which means someone who endeavors to eat locally grown or produced food, beat out several other contenders for 2007 Word of the Year, a title bestowed by the New Oxford American Dictionary.

People in the St. Louis area might be familiar with the concept from trips to the Tower Grove Farmers Market or to Local Harvest Grocery, 3148 Morganford Road, or Whole Foods Market, 1601 S. Brentwood Blvd.

Patrick Horine, co-owner of Local Harvest, said the business opened during the summer as a neighborhood store, but also as a store for people striving to eat as much locally-grown food as possible. Business has increased during the winter months after the nearby Tower Grove Farmers Market ended its season.Some people want to reduce their environmental impact by buying locally-cultivated food because less fossil fuels have been used to ship it from far away, Horine said. Others are concerned about the lack of oversight for some imported foods.

"They're doing it for food safety and health reasons," Horine said.

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