By Brook Larios
SDUN Columnist

Sustainable. Organic. All natural. Slow food. Ambiguously swirling prose, waiting for the elitist ear—and wallet—to open? No, sustainable—or slow—food is inherently not about status or serving a small sect of individuals who can afford to attend a $5,000-a-head political fund-raiser. It’s about eating wisely—with joy—and about consuming only what is needed. It’s about being selective, but in a good way. It urges us to support “local”—local farmers, ranchers, restaurateurs and artisans. It’s a commitment to community and environment. It’s good for you, good for those who produce it and good for the planet. Symbiotic. It’s the opposite of fast food. A culture. And one that is richly thriving in San Diego, especially in Uptown, the county’s sustainable food hotbed.

With more restaurants that source from area farmers, ranchers and artisans than anywhere else in San Diego County, the odds of walking skipping, biking, bussing or driving down the road in Uptown and snagging a fresh meal comprised of locally-sourced ingredients any day of the week is ridiculously high. Likewise, one can almost trip on a farmers market Wednesday through Sunday. And, with more small farms than any other county in the U.S., variety in San Diego is never an issue (but it is the spice of life).

Over the coming months, I’ll share stories of local restaurateurs, chefs and artisans who provide the best vittles on Earth. You’ll read about the farmers and ranchers who tirelessly labor so their neighbors (you and I) may thrive. You’ll learn about the challenges of our nation’s broken food system and how to right those increasingly disturbing wrongs. Your eyes will open widely to the travesties of big agriculture and corporations that fuel the production of genetically modified food-ish items (see also: corn and soy) with myths of “feeding the world.” You may even begin to close the cupboard on processed and pseudo foods, enjoying more energy than ever before.

The best way to begin this satisfaction-laden journey? By meeting your local ranchers, growers and artisans. So roll up this paper and hightail it out the door, beginning with your area farmers markets.

Wednesdays
Adams Avenue Certified Farmers Market
3 to 7 p.m.
4672 35th St. (between Adams and Madison avenues)
adamsavenuebusiness.com

Thursdays
North Park Farmers Market and Open Air Bazaar
2 p.m. to sunset (fall/winter) or 3 p.m. to sunset (spring/summer)
3151 University Ave. at 32nd (in the CVS Pharmacy parking lot)
northparkfarmersmarket.com

Fridays
Mission Hills Certified Farmers Market
3 to 7 p.m.
Falcon St. (between Fort Stockton Drive and Washington Street)
ourmissionhills.com

Saturdays
City Heights Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
4340 Wightman St. (between 43rd Street and Fairmount Avenue)
cityheightsfarmersmarket.com

Old Town San Diego Artisan Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Harney St.
oldtownsaturdaymarket.com

Little Italy Mercato
9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
W. Date Street and India Street to north side of Columbia
littleitalymercato.com

Sundays
Hillcrest Farmers Market
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
3960 Normal St. at Lincoln (adjacent to the DMV)
hillcrestfarmersmarket.com