The American Oxford English dictionary declared 'locavore' to be the 2007 Word of the Year.
The “locavore” movement encourages consumers to buy from farmers’ markets or even to grow or pick their own food, arguing that fresh, local products is more nutritious and tastes better. Locavores also shun supermarket offerings as an environmentally friendly measure, since shipping food over long distances often requires more fuel for transportation.
The word ‘locavore’ shows how food-lovers can enjoy what they eat while still appreciating the impact they have on the environment,” said Ben Zimmer, editor for American dictionaries at Oxford University Press. “It’s significant in that it brings together eating and ecology in a new way.” “Locavore” was coined two years ago by a group of four women in San Francisco who proposed that local residents should try to eat only food grown or produced within a 100-mile radius. Other regional movements have emerged since then, though some groups refer to themselves as “localvores” rather than “locavores.”
People are questioning their food's history, the nutritional content of their meals and the chemical composition of the stuff they feed their kids. Farmers markets like the Tokai morning market and the uber-trendy Old Biscuit Mill market will become even more popular in 2008 as prosumers hunt for real food, grow by real people.
The world is a rapidly changing place and this new wave of questioning our fuel is resulting in an increasing boycott of fast food chains, over-priced restaurants and highly processed foods promoted by big budget marketing campaigns and the traditional wave of corporate capitalism. Roof top herb gardens and organic backyard vegetable patches are replacing genetically modified produce and stock yards animal fare.
As people climb the socio-economic ladder, the predicted trend of 'cocooning' will become more mainstream. Spending quality time with family and friends in the comfort of your well-appointed home will become a preferred choice instead of taking on the mean streets of the city.
Shane Dryden, co-owner of South Africa's premier kitchen tools store Yuppiechef.co.za, says; "We are realising that less clutter, really does mean a better quality of life and the kitchen is regaining its status as the heart of the family home. Weekend's transform the space into a 'theatre of food' and alternative 'live' home entertainment, creatively fueled by celebrity British television chefs and endless volumes of well photographed food books."
But although the kitchen is returning to traditional values, it's also going high-tech with brushed aluminium double-door fridges now housing touch screen Internet connections and high quality branded kitchen tools replacing the old cluttered preparation utensils that used to be purchased from supermarket shelves.
A single Global knife replaces the old plastic-handled cheap knife collection you used to hack your way through everything with, while trusted KitchenAid branded blenders and mixers, both sourced through Yuppiechef.co.za, take centre stage in the 'theatre of food'.
Quality trusted ingredients deserve to be treated and prepared with respect and a core collection of the world's best kitchen tool brands that not only last much longer, but are worthy props for the amateur foodie after the ultimate indulgent food experience.
