A Few Local Groceries

Since the quarantine began earlier this year, most people have been doing their part and staying indoors. That means no cars, no buses, no planes, etc. You could say that this is a good thing. Carbon emissions have dropped significantly since the beginning of the quarantine, air quality has improved, and wildlife has started to reemerge. But what about tomorrow? When people start going about their normal lives again, will these trends continue? Will you keep pushing for a greener way of life?

Even if you do, what about the big companies that produce the largest amounts of pollution? The plastic, smog, and water pollution created by big companies such as Nestle or Coca Cola is staggering. What can we do about it?

The short answer? Buy local.

It's much more environmentally friendly to buy local as much as you can. Local farmers don't have to produce on as large of a scale as manufacturers, using less pesticides and taking greater care with their products. There's less distance between the farm and your table, reducing emissions from transportation and the amount of handling that needs to be done before you buy the product. Plus, buying locally helps contribute to the economy and allows local businesses to grow and flourish, providing better products to the community.

Don't know where to start buying? Here are a few places to get you started.

Ever'Man Cooperative

315 W. Garden St. and 1000 E 9 Mile Rd.

Mon-Sat 7 AM - 9 PM

Sun 9 AM - 8 PM

Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe was established in 1973 as a local grocery store. Today, it's still going strong with two locations and curbside pickup available at its 9 Mile Rd. location. It's one of the largest supporters of local food systems and sustainable living, serving locally-sourced meals in its cafe and regularly hosting educational classes on health, nutrition, and the environment. Ever'man has also mostly phased out its plastic grocery bags! Now, you have a choice between paper bags, canvas tote bags, and bags made from recycled plastic bottles. It even has a reward system for those who use their own canvas bags: for every reusable bag used, Ever'man donates five cents to a rotating list of charities. Forgot your bag? No worries! Ever'man also has a bag lending program! Just make sure that you bring the bag back or donate another reusable bag to the store.

Maria's Fresh Seafood Market

621 East Cervantes St.

Mon-Sat 8 AM - 7 PM

Sun 8 AM - 6 PM

Maria's Fresh Seafood Market was founded in 1989, specializing in locally caught fish bought and filleted daily. Today, it serves over 130 local restaurants, hospitals, and other vendors. Famous for seasoned steamed shrimp and a variety of crabs, Maria's also sells squid, oyster, and local fish. They even have a restaurant in the store, and Maria's website has a few recipes for you to try with their products! Try bringing your own cooler and ask if they can put your fish in the cooler to reduce the amount of plastic you use when buying fish (By the way, you can also do this at Joe Patti's).

T&W Flea Market

1717 N T St.

Sat-Sun 7 AM - 5 PM

T&W Flea Market sells a variety of local products, from produce to clothes and tools to collectibles. It recently reopened with social distancing guidelines, so check out the website for more information. Even with social distancing rules though, T&W remains as charming and environmentally-friendly as ever! It's a great place to check out local vendors and get your weekly groceries from great sources. Whatever you need, you can probably find it there; it has indoor and outdoor vendors, and it even has food booths for when you need a bite to eat before you keep shopping! Make sure you bring your reusable bags or some sort of tote to carry what you buy.

Bailey's Produce and Nursery

4301 N Davis Hwy

Mon-Sat 7 AM - 7 PM

Sun 10 AM - 4 PM

Bailey's began in 1936 when Doc Bailey began selling crops from his family farm to the community. Now, it's grown into a beloved grocery store with locally sourced products and an extensive nursery where you can buy your own plants. They make a conscious effort to only source vegetables and fruits in season, and they regularly update their Facebook page with what's in stock. They offer curbside service and produce gift baskets now! Just call ahead and place your orders with the store. If you decide to shop in the store, remember to bring your reusable bags. Bailey's is one of the best places to use them!

Sue's Soaks and Scrubs

850-530-9925

Mon-Sat 7 AM - 5 PM

Sun 11 AM - 5 PM

This isn't a grocery store, but it's a local beauty brand with wonderful products and services! Run by Letitia Tish Coward Wright, Sue's sells a variety of beauty products such as bath salts and body oils. It also provides a few services like massages and mani-pedis. While this doesn't relate to food, this is still a locally-sourced brand that has far less of an impact on the environment than larger corporations. Try out a few of Mrs. Wright's products or recommend them to someone else!

This is only a short list of local stores and brands. There are many many more within Pensacola that have wonderful products just waiting to be discovered. Hopefully this has inspired you to do a little search on google or on Facebook for other stores! Buying locally is a great way to have an indirect environmental impact, and it's easy to get started today.

Live green!