LoCo Foods and Yoga in a Loaf

Thanks to the wonderful food revolutionaries at Ethicurean.com for linking here. While visiting there, I navigated through the Serious Eats blog to Language Log, with this post on a dust-up about "buy local" vs. "buy locally."

I can't believe I just found Language Log. They've published a book, even. I love this stuff, and I know that's a little weird, but copy editors and word people are often the funniest people around. And who else could feel my pain at indiscriminate use of the unnecessary diminutive "veggie," or understand the way that misuse of "it's' and "its" makes my insides itch?

But I digress. Buy Local vs. Buy Locally actually doesn't bother me as much as, uh, veggie, or as much as never saying what "local" means.

I want a separate word for products that are made by a locally based company with ingredients that are not local. These products are certainly pro-local economies; your neighbor may be working for the company,and that company may be sponsoring local events, and generally stimulating the social and financial engines that make our communities happy and secure. All very good. But it's not technically local food. So the itchy, curmudgeonly editor in me wants a better word. ProLocalEcon? Community food? Grown There Made Here? I think I like LoCo foods, for Local Company.

Like local foods, LoCo foods are best made organically. I got a LoCo treat myself today; I think the universal order-fulfillment department heard me talking about LOAF, because three loaves of Rudi's Bakery breads arrived at my doorstep. These breads are certified organic, Rudi's is a locally-based company, and there are surprise ingredients. I am really excited about the one called Yoga Bread. I have no idea what makes it yoga-like (shouldn't it be a pretzel?) but it looks good, and I guess I've earned it as I enter my 15th year of yoga practice. Then there's Green Tea and Goji Berry Bread, and Pomegranate and Blueberry Bread. I think these breads are so new they're not on Rudi's site yet, but check back.

To complete the LoCo-Local experience, these last two organic LoCo breads sound like they need something fruity and sweet, like organic peach preserves or local honey from the Niwot Honey Farm or organic cream cheese. The Yoga Bread might need a Zen moment in the toaster and LoCo peanut butter from Justin's Nut Butter.

The sweetest spot may still be organic foods grown locally, but a healthy diet can also have a spectrum of conscious eating choices that includes LoCo foods and many good organic brands.