SHOPPING LOCAL

A collection of posts about shopping locally to get the best ingredients. Sustainable ingredients to help lower your carbon footprint.

Best Bakeries in Santa Cruz

by Lisa LeCoump
May 6, 2024May 6, 2024

Our list of the best bakeries in Santa Cruz

Best Marinated Cheese Recipe

by Lisa LeCoump
January 18, 2023February 21, 2024

This recipe for the best marinated cheese works well for two reasons. Marinating the cheese can add flavors, enhancing the cheese and it can keep the cheese fresh for months.

Best Local Fish

by Lisa LeCoump
December 22, 2022February 21, 2024

For the best local fish we shop at H and H Fish and Shucked Raw Bar

Farmers Markets

by Lisa LeCoump
August 31, 2022February 21, 2024

If you shop at the farmers’ market, you will be getting produce that is fresh, just picked, ripe and in season, and probably organic as well.

Local Farm Stand in Santa Cruz

by Lisa LeCoump
August 26, 2022July 12, 2023

A local farm stand is a great place to get produce that is just picked and grown for taste.

Best Chocolatiers in Santa Cruz

by Lisa LeCoump
August 14, 2022April 29, 2024

There are several chocolatiers in Santa Cruz where you can find excellent handmade chocolates

Cupcakes in Santa Cruz

by Lisa LeCoump
July 23, 2022April 30, 2024

We were looking for cupcakes in Santa Cruz California. And we found the perfect thing.

Berries for the Fourth of July

by Lisa LeCoump
July 2, 2020April 29, 2024

July is berry season and they are the colors of the holiday. What could be easier, or healthier, than having berries for the Fourth of July.

Far West Fungi In Santa Cruz

by Lisa LeCoump
February 1, 2020April 29, 2024

A specialty shop for mushrooms

Sparkling Cider For New Years Eve

by Lisa LeCoump
January 1, 2020April 29, 2024

Include a non alcoholic drink choice when entertaining

According to the United Nations, “Our food systems right now are unsustainable. They are a major contributor to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution“. But, research done at U.C., Davis demonstrates that “soils could store enough carbon to offset a significant proportion of fossil fuel emissions”, and actually reverse climate change. This happens when farmers use ‘regenerative agriculture’ practices, which increase and keep organic matter in the soil. This blog features products that are grown this way, so you will know which brands will help reverse climate change.

While traveling the world and looking for the best quality ingredients, we found that many producers who care about quality also care about sustainability. When we used the best quality ingredients we also reduced our carbon footprint. Additionally, by buying regenerative products, we could actually help reverse climate change. So, this blog features some of those products. If everyone did this, more farmers would use ‘regenerative practices’ and it would have a big effect on climate change. Little changes add up to something big. Little things matter. We could save the world, one cookie at a time.

Professional Photographer - Food Photographer, Wedding Photographer. Lisa was previously the Deputy Agricultural Commissioner, responsible for reviewing and enforcing organic regulations and Environmental Protection Agency pesticide use regulations. She also worked for years as an Agricultural Advisor in California, a farmer in California, and an Agricultural Extension Agent in Thailand. She received a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from California State University, Chico and studied Integrated Pest Management at U.C., Davis, which involved farming methods that preserve the environment.