-
8/8/2019 Harvest Toronto - S.O.S - Sustainable, Organic, Seasonal
1/2
smart living
I
ts the most wonderul time o the year. Te harvest. Its
short (and sweet), and once you get through readingthis article, I can only hope that youll be compelled to
try some o my suggestions, and will join me in sending out
an S.O.S. (sustainable, organic and seasonal) message, so as
many as possible will take advantage o orontos delicious,
colourul and abundant harvest.
Whether you are ed up with reading about organics,
certications, lack o regulations, local eating or diferent
diets, remember, together we are striving or higher
standards. Once you experience the slow ood movement,
shop at organic armers markets, read product labels and
dine at restaurants that ofer local and organic menus, you
will no longer worry about whats proven, and, youll simply
enjoy. So why shop, buy and explore S.O.S.?
HarvestToronto-S.O.S. StyleSustainable, Organic and SeasonalBy Lisa Borden
Its FresherSimply a shorter time rom arm
to table. (Note: organic at a major
supermarket is not the same as
organic rom a armers market
- the best S.O.S. comes directly
rom an organic armer.)
Its TastierNo need to trust me, do your
own taste test (without all o the
synthetics), youll savour pure,
unaltered, delicious ood. I your
ood needs to travel ar, its bred
to withstand a longer shel lie
and is usually picked beore its
ully ripe. Shame.
Its HealthierFully ripened and eaten soon
ater picking, the ood retains
more nutrients, has no need
or preservatives and ofers less
exposure to chemicals. Score.
ItsEnvironmentallySoundLong distance travel requiresmore packaging, rerigeration,
uel to get to table and generates
more waste and pollution (did
you ever wonder how produce
arrives rom Mexico without
bruises and without being
rotten?). Crops grown without
synthetic pesticides, herbicides,
ertilizers and GMOs mean
ewer o these items are being
produced and ewer are being
released into our soil and water.
What goes down will come back
up again.
Its CheaperApples to apples it may be
more expensive to buy S.O.S.,
but cheap ood actually has
a very high cost to us, ourhealth and our world. With less
middlemen, less marketing and
less transportation costs, you can
save money i you know when
and where to buy and are willing
to enjoy whats in season.
Its NeighbourlyThere are so many advantages
to having our money stay in
our community, including job
creation and local armer support
and i youve eaten today, you
should be thanking a armer,
hopeully a local one.
Its FlexibleI you love bananas, they arent
going to be locally grown (too
bad or us!), so, choose to buyorganic, air-trade bunches and
enjoy. Just please dont buy all
apples that have travelled rom
New Zealand when wonderul
apples are harvested all around
us! Everyone has diferent
standards and exceptions to their
rulesmake your own.
1. The Harbord Room
2. Chvre Noir Shortbread rom LPKsCullinary Groove
3. Earth to Table - Seasonal Recipesrom an Organic Farm by JefCrump and Bettina Schormann
tonic|October 2010| 39
-
8/8/2019 Harvest Toronto - S.O.S - Sustainable, Organic, Seasonal
2/2
RestaurantsHarbord Room My son (he
writes restaurant reviews) calls it
the best burger place in Toronto.
Raw Aura In Port Credit, but
you can try and justiy the un-eco-
ness o the travel by eating the
best raw and vegan meal in the
GTA. (Ravioli is my avourite dish.)
True A gorgeous restaurant in
Yorkville, where even their bar is
organic. The service sadly lacks,
but its worth enduring, since they
are the real deal.
Wine Bar You can learn a lot
by getting stools at the kitchen
bar, watching the ches prepare
your dishes, tapas style. I you like
French ries, this would be the
place to indulge.
DessertDelight Two locations scoop out
the greatest ice cream. And, you
wont nd a better cone anywhere.
LPks Culinary Groove
Owner, Lesia claims that she
serves beautiully cultivated
desserts and she does. She is able
to accommodate almost every
special diet and allergy.
Shopping for HomeHealthy Butcher
A small specialty store, where they
want to know your name. Think o
their shop as a permanent armers
market - butcher is deceiving,
as they also have exceptional
produce!
Fiesta Farms Torontos largest
independently owned grocery
store with a big selection o local
oods - just make sure you read
labels, its not all S.O.S. here!
Organic Farmers Marets
There are markets almost every
day o the week. Its really the
ultimate way to shop. Pick this up
as your newest habit, just beware,
its addictive.
CookbooksRipe from Around Here
A wonderul vegan cookbook,
and being rom Toronto, when Jae
Steele talks about local, its actually
local to us!
Earth to Table This cookbook
could be a cofee table book its
so beautiul and again, its written
by locals inspiring us with local
oods.
Other S.O.S.Activities
Pic Your Own Organics Farm,
Avalon Orchards, or perhaps, rom
your own garden?
Harvest Festivals Consider
attending Feast of Fields, or events
at Evergreen Brickworks.
By now Ivehopeully convinced
you that eatingS.O.S. ood is the
way to go and that
by doing so youcan bring home theharvest to enjoy at
your table. Here aresome o my local
avourites, who dishout unparalleled
oods celebratingour local growing
season:
Lisa Borden~ is an eco-advocate, whose marketingbusiness, Borden Communications+ Design is a direct reection oher commitment to better, moreresponsible living. [email protected]
40|October 2010|tonic