The Hands and Hearts Behind Your Food
The Neighborhood Grocer provides our community with healthy, locally sourced foods that reflect a commitment to organic and sustainable practices which aim to minimize our carbon footprint. Each of our vendors possess a unique story to tell. Here are a few to share.
Biota
Biota is committed to cultivating flavorful, exceptional coffee whose production doesn't harm people or the planet. Standard coffee production methods actually harm the soil and the farmers who grow the crop and a traditionally-grown cup of coffee emits 15 times its weight in greenhouse gasses.
Biota developed a plan to help small regional coffee farmers transform their farms. In Biota's first year they created an
incredible partnership with Manuel Gutierrez, whose farm sits on the slope of Volcan de Agua in Antigua Valley, Guatemala.
Biota worked with Manuel to integrate native tree species which shade plants and to also intercrop the coffee plants with flowers and legumes. This increases nitrogen levels, which improves soil conditions, and increases pollinators. Whenever possible, organic fertilizers and compost replace chemicals. The result of these regenerative farming practices is a significant boost in biodiversity that helps protect the land and make Manuel's farm more resistant to climate change.
Lily's Eggs
Tucked below the Los Padres National Forest on a 20-acre farm in Fillmore, CA, Lily’s chickens are free-range pasture raised—feasting on grasses, shrubs, bugs, and worms. They also enjoy vegetables such as alfalfa sprouts, chard, cabbage, carrot tops, spinach, red peppers, and an array of seasonal food scraps. Dried oregano, which naturally strengthens their immune system, is a diet stable. No growth hormones, antibiotics, corn, or soy are fed to Lily’s chicks. Alongside the pastures you'll find goats, geese, ducks, and thriving bee hives which aid in pollination as well as produce seasonal honeys.
Semolina
This neighborhood pasta shop is right up the road from us. Semolina was started by Leah Ferrazzani in 2014 and all of their pastas, and entire facility are certified organic by Organic Certifiers. This means the semolina is Non-GMO, and is free of petroleum-based pesticides and fertilizers. Better for you and better for the planet!
We also love that they are committed to minimizing food waste from start to finish. They work with a miller who sells the byproducts of semolina production- the bran and the germ-as animal feed. Their kitchen waste is minimal as well and they have transitioned to using recyclable boxes manufactured at a local facility powered by renewable energy.
Weiser Family Farms
Weiser Family Farms began in 1977 when Sid Weiser decided to pack up the family and follow his dream of working off the land. In 1982 their son Alex jumped in to assist the family in selling at local Farmers’ Markets. There he encountered chefs, the public and specialty produce buyers who wanted seasonal, high quality, and superior tasting produce. Listening to this input, Alex began to focus on creating a bio-diverse farm dedicated to applying sustainable farming techniques.
Today, Weiser Family Farms grows in the Greater Bakersfield area, Tehachapi and the Lucerne Valley, cultivating high quality, sustainably grown heirloom produce year round.
Chinese Laundry
Chinese Laundry Kitchen was founded by designer Yanza and her chef husband Leo Lamprides. Yanza is a first generation immigrant from China, while Leo grew up in Southern California. Since the beginning of their relationship, the couple bonded over exchanging cultural and culinary knowledge and skills in the kitchen. Chinese Laundry was born out of the desire to preserve Yanza’s family recipes while sharing their love for the rich Chinese culinary traditions.
