At the farmers market last weekend, I was waiting in line for eggs, and instead of being impatient, I was super happy. Look at all the people up early to buy something easily procured at a supermarket for possibly less money. They were all there for the same reason I was: because fresh, local eggs are delicious, and buying at the market supports our farmers.
As far as the food world is concerned, we’re living in good times. Not long ago, supermarket eggs were the only choice for people who lived in cities, and instant fruit juice, coffee and mashed potatoes were considered progress.
Today we know the damage this kind of progress causes and that changes are needed to mitigate the harm caused by factory farming, monopolies and harmful chemicals. That can seem overwhelming, but we can do something about it every time we pick up a fork.
Which takes me back to the farmers market, where we find a community determined to take steps, and forkfuls, toward change.
Edible Port City is here to celebrate that community, which includes our neighbors, local restaurant owners, bakers, farmers, artisans and the organizations that work to get food to underserved communities.
In this issue, you’ll meet a local baker who brings so many members of the community together, a hydroponic farmer sustainably growing baby lettuces and microgreens, and you’ll get a peek into Wilmington’s growing cocktail culture, where bartenders can take advantage of local spirits as well as fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms.
We at EPC also want to recognize Wilmington’s upcoming artists and new neighborhoods and how they intersect. Check out the center spread of the magazine, where Maya Murano’s illustration invites you to color a streetscape (#edibleportcity #colormebad). Open the magazine up. You’ll see what I’m talking about.
Here we go! Welcome to our first issue. You can expect us to be out and about to learn what’s going on in the food community and how we can tell stories about what is local, sustainable and growing here in the Port City.
See you on the streets.
Eileen M. Duffy
Publisher | Editor-in-Chief
This story originally appeared in the Fall 2023 issue.
