Buy from food carts!

This thank you note from a graduating son to his father has been making the rounds, tagged with #consumelocal.

Thank you for your support all these years, he says, and for teaching me never to give up. It all comes from this elote (corn) cart. Buy and eat from local stands and shops, he goes on. Even with a small purchase you’re greatly helping the economy of others.

True! Millions of people around the world support themselves and their families by selling food however they can: street food, carts, market stands, sitting in the doorway serving directly from their kitchen, or running around delivering loaded up plates and trays.

Here in Michoacán, there’s plenty of opportunity to buy local and support the small vendors. It’s not without contradictions, though. What about small-scale vendors of the imported junk food and soda that’s triggering soaring rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart problems?

It’s tough. If they’re not producers themselves, vendors have to buy what they can afford, and feel confident they can then sell it to others. And if that’s big-ag, big food Tostito’s and Coca Cola? I see this every day in Morelia. One side of the plaza, Michoacán gazpacho — diced fresh fruit of the season piled in a cup (yup, usually plastic), topped with lime, crema, chili. Other side, the very popular Mexican creation of Tostilocos — tear open the side seam of a little bag of Tostititos, then pile on the lime, salsa, jicama, chilies, mango, melted cheese, chicharrón (pork skin) — and carry a lot of napkins.

For my part, I say when you’re in the mood for the mess of that salty/sweet, crunchy/ soft, picant/mild, health-benefit-free combo, go for it — from a small stand, like from Luis’ father.

And the rest of the time, hopefully most of the time, pick up in-season fruits and veg from the local markets and street vendors. Try to get eggs, dairy, and meat from the small-scale vendors, too, who are sourcing from local producers.

It’s small, but nice to take the steps we can to free ourselves where and when we can from the big ag, corporate-controlled food systems.