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Vegetarian Groceries
It is estimated by some that Lane County leads the entire country in per capita percent of our economy that is involved in natural foods, including many local products and businesses, natural food stores, and organic farms. And while the commercial food industry as a whole has stagnated nationwide, only the natural foods sector has been growing steadily and strongly, year after year.
Eugene boasts a full spectrum of choices when it comes to buying your groceries. Growers Market stands out as the only market that, as a matter of policy, sells only and all vegetarian food. Farmers Market is an excellent source of organically grown and freshly harvested produce.
We are also blessed with an astonishingly high number of locally owned natural food stores. They include Sundance, Red Barn, The Kiva, Friendlys, Long Life, and two New Frontier stores. All do carry a tiny percentage of meat-derived products, i.e., supplements with gelatin capsules, with Sundance and Long Life having the fewest.
There are also three large grocery store chains that carry lots of natural foods, including Wild Oats, Trader Joes and the P.C. Markets of Choice. All also do sell large quantities of meat, however.
Finally, most of Eugene's regular grocery stores are now carrying an increasing number of natural food products and organically grown produce. Some have even added natural food section within their stores.
Long Life is a new natural food store out West 11th on the way to Veneta. You can load up on natural food treats and drinks there for your picnic at the ocean. Long Life and its owners, David and Pandora Owen, are dedicated to promoting vegetarian consciousness. Pandora will be happy to answer your questions on nutritional supplements, herbs, and preparation of raw food dishes. To find Long Life, look on your right shortly after you pass the reservoir. Located before you get to Veneta at 25808 Highway 126, Long Life shares a building with Luceros Automotive, just past Ellmaker St. and Dixies Cafe. Stop in and meet the friendly people who bring you Long Life.
Growers Market
Growers Market Cooperative is a community owned grocery store that offers natural food at a very low mark-up. Located at 4th & Willamette, around back by the train station. Growers is a good place to meet fun, interesting people while you shop for local (when possible), organic produce, and other natural groceries. There is good variety. Just show up on any Thursday 2:30-7:30 PM, or Friday 3:00-6:30 PM, and, as a first time new customer, you'll get the member discount. From then on, you can choose to volunteer a half hour per week, or pay an extra 15% for the food.
The week this article was written, organic olive oil was $2.65/lb. Thats about $6 a quart, a great price! The prices are low because the building is paid for and the labor is volunteer. Orientations for new members happen every Thursday at 1:30 PM.
Farmers Market
Fresh produce from all around the area from as far away as Roseburg, Elkton, Cottage Grove, and even Tillamook. Most produce is organically grown and picked that day. At Saturday Market on 8th & Oak, it is open June - October, 9-5 PM. Also on Tuesdays, April - November 10-3 PM, and is part of the holiday market as well.
Why Choose Organic?
While a commercially produced apple and an organically grown apple may look the same, testing shows higher quantities of nutrients in the organic one. So, while organic may cost a little more money in the short run, you get more vitamins and minerals in your apple. Organic also can be a bit more labor intensive, but that often means you are supporting your local economy. Organic agriculture conserves and enriches the topsoil instead of poisoning it and using it up, and then moving on to degrade land elsewhere. As more and more people buy organic, the price falls, due to the economy of scale. So, do your health, your community, and your environment a favor, and buy organically grown foods!
Food Not Bombs
Food Not Bombs is a grassroots organization striving to work together cooperatively within our communities to build an egalitarian society. Food Not Bombs actively works for peace and harmony grounded in consensus decision-making, collective action, feminism, equality, respect and honor for all life, the free flow of information; nurturance of mind, body and soul... individual and community empowerment.
Food Not Bombs sponsors free vegan meals in public venues on a daily basis and at special events, demonstrations and festivals. Our community meals aim at reclaiming public spaces from state and corporate control and ensuring that these places are open and safe for community use. Food Not Bombs serves free food to the hungry Tuesday through Saturday at Washington/Jefferson Park. Times vary. If you'd like to get involved, contact The Shamrock house and Community Space, 3rd & Van Buren at 242-0943.
Locally Owned Natural Food Stores
Cool Web Sites
Good Books
The Food Revolution by John Robbins. "How your diet can save your life and the world". When it comes to dietary choices, the personal is political. The man destined to be the heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire walks away from it all to become a leading proponent of the plant based diet. A must-read for those who want to understand the vast scope of devastation caused by the meat and dairy industry, both to the environment and to our personal health and well- being. -A. Mountainskyrainbow
***Highly recommended***
Conscious Eating by Gabriel Cousens, M.D. A comprehensive guide to regaining vibrant health through your daily diet. Tools to analyze your individual type and tailor your own dietary plan. Spirituality and vegetarianism. How to do the transition to a mostly live food, all-vegetarian diet. Recipes, recommended reading list, resources and more. -A. Mountainskyrainbow
***Highly recommended***
The Sunfood Diet Success System by David Wolfe. Change your diet, change your life, change the world, all for the better! Exuberant, raw joy. A motivational guide structured as a course with a series of step by step lessons. Fun, easy, exciting, transforming. Recipes, reading list, resources and more. -A. Mountainskyrainbow
***Highly recommended***
Becoming Vegan: The Complete Guide to adopting a healthy plant based diet by Brenda Davis, R.D. and Vesanto Melina, M.S., R.D. Two of North America's foremost vegetarian dietitians present up to date nutrition information for vegans from infancy through pregnancy, athletics to aging gracefully. -Karen Booth
***Highly recommended***
Tofu Cookery by Louise Hagler. New recipes and old favorites for tasty healthy meals. Easy to cook recipes with nutritional information and color photos of delightful dishes. -Karen Booth
***Highly recommended***
The Farm Cookbook by The Farm. Great vegan cookbook and nutrition guide. Pure vegan versions of traditional American dishes, plus international favorites. How to make your own tofu, soymilk, and gluten (seitan). -David ResSeguie
***Highly recommended***