As little as three decades ago, the idea of sitting and dining at an organic vegan café would have been amusing to many. Jokes would have been made at the expense of people who had discovered the wonders of not only organic but also vegan food. People would laugh at what they believed would have been a restrictive, unusual and very repetitive diet.
Veganism and Vegetarianism: A Brief Look at the Origins
While veganism is relatively new on the natural and organic plate, vegetarianism is not. Vegetarianism was part of a do-no-harm principle. It was common among several ancient cultures and religions including Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. Their approach was philosophical rather than related to personal health concerns.
The term “vegan” did not appear until 1944. In this year, Donald Watson (1910-2005), a Yorkshire man, stated that the term for those who ate vegetables, nuts and fruit, but not dairy and eggs, were to be called “vegans.” The name was incorporated into his newsletter and group of the time the Vegan Society. The “movement” was to grow from 25 subscribers in the 1940s to more than 250,000 in his native country in 2005. In the United States, the number for that same year was 2 million.
The Local Food Movement
The numbers of vegetarians and vegans have increased. It has also found allies in another food and health-based movement. This group supports local farmers. It encourages everyone to buy locally – showing support for farmers in the area. This approach focuses on:
* The Environment: Buying locally means less use of fossil fuels
* The Food Supply: Encouraging getting to know how local food is made
* The Local Economy: supporting local farmers and other producers means farmers can survive and even thrive. It also puts money back into the local economy because farmers are consumers, too.
* Health: This is more common to those who believe in the organic local food movement. They feel small organic producers provide food that is healthier since it lacks exposure to many of the modern day farming practices including the application of pesticides and herbicides as well as more humane animal treatments.
Those who follow the organic, vegan or vegetarian path, tend to be members of the buy local food movement. Yet, while they may eat locally at an organic vegan café or restaurant, they will not eat meat. They feel that, no matter how humanely the animal has been treated or how organically it has been fed, such an act is permissible.
Patronizing an Organic Vegan Café
All members –vegan, vegetarian, and local food supporters, can meet and enjoy the food served at the right type of café or restaurant. For all three, what is served at the right type of organic vegan café fulfills all their demands by being local, vegan, sustainable and, of course – delicious.
From its beginning as part of the Pacific Palisades farmers market, the Juice Ladies were on a mission. Since then, they have opened their Organic Vegan Cafe. Through it, they hope to continue their mission of educating the public in the benefits and general goodness of local, organic food. To learn more about our philosophy and our café, visit us online at URL. For more details and updates like our Facebook page.
