There's a new sheriff in town (yes, the Whole Foods* mecca is now open in Fremont) so I thought I'd update this list...
That old folk wisdom adage "you are what you eat" holds true. Nowadays we've grown up with industrially produced meat & produce and have no idea what real food tastes like. Organic foods not only taste better, though not prettier, and are less likely to pollute your body & the earth with carcinogenic toxins or feed into the impending zombie apocalypse.
I get a little more into why eating organic, sustainably-raised food is important to our family here.
Overall, though in our family we eat chicken & fish far more frequently, I prefer pork which I only eat if I can source sustainably-raised/organic at the very least, pasture-raised and corn-free at the best. Here's my go to's:
*Full disclosure: I am a Whole Foods Fremont Foodie Ambassador. What does that mean? I have no idea. This is a new unpaid pilot program that was launched to tie into the Fremont opening. WF gathered a select group of foodies who represent the diversity in Fremont as well as diverse dietary needs. We got to have a nice little wine & gnosh get together & swag before the grand opening in exchange for social media promotion. But nothing has happened since. Don't expect this to go to my head.
That old folk wisdom adage "you are what you eat" holds true. Nowadays we've grown up with industrially produced meat & produce and have no idea what real food tastes like. Organic foods not only taste better, though not prettier, and are less likely to pollute your body & the earth with carcinogenic toxins or feed into the impending zombie apocalypse.
I get a little more into why eating organic, sustainably-raised food is important to our family here.
Overall, though in our family we eat chicken & fish far more frequently, I prefer pork which I only eat if I can source sustainably-raised/organic at the very least, pasture-raised and corn-free at the best. Here's my go to's:
PRODUCE
- Our garden!
- Ramirez Pesticide-Free Farm (Cherry-Guardino--Fremont) Pesticide free produce, small selection of staples like kale, cilantro, squashes.
- Perry's Organic Farm (Ardenwood--Fremont) Organic, great selection
- Newark Farmer's Market (New Park Mall) Stress-free parking and pesticide-free Asian vegetables
- Whole Foods Market (Fremont) I was pleased to see they carry Perry Farm's produce and it is so beautiful inside.
- Sprouts Market
- Trader Joes
- Costco
CHICKEN
- Indian Market (Central Fremont) organic, halal chicken (whole, breast, quarters, livers)
- Maiwand Market (Centerville--Fremont) organic, halal chicken (whole, breast, quarters, livers)
- Holistic Moms Network Tri-City Chapter buying coop for organic, grain-free, pasture-raised chickens & eggs from Early Bird Ranch (Pescadero, CA)
- Whole Foods Market (Fremont)
- Sprouts Market
- Trader Joes
- Costco
EGGS
- Azure Standard has organic, pasture-raised eggs for a great price
- Local Farmers market
- GoodEggs.com
- RealFoodBayArea.com
DUCK
- Fremont BARF Coop (Northgate--Fremont) Sustainably raised duck leg quarters, hearts & livers & fat from Sonoma County Poultry Liberty Ducks
- Whole Foods Market (Fremont)
FISH
- Fremont BARF Coop (Northgate--Fremont)Sustainably caught whole fish (seasonal) from EcoPawz
- Holistic Moms Network Tri-City Chapter Sustainably caught seafood from Lummis Island
- Whole Foods Market (Fremont)
- Marina Poultry & Seafood (San Leandro/Newark) Sustainable seafood! Locally caught! Technically the physical storefront is not in the Tri-City area, however rumor is they have a booth at the Newark New Park Mall Farmers Market on Sundays. HMN TC recently did a Chinook salmon buy through them and it was excellent!
- Costco
- Trader Joes
PORK
- Heritage Foods USA Food hub. organic heritage hogs--red wattle is the most succulent
- Clark Summit Farm organic heritage hogs, offal & fat
- Holistic Moms Network Tri-City Chapter buying coop for organic, mostly grain-free, forest-raised/forage-fed hogs from Early Bird Ranch (Pescadero, CA)
BEEF
- Pampero Ranch raises free range, grass fed longhorn steer (might not be organic). Their headquarters are based in Sunol. The steer are raised in Modesto.
- Backyard CSA sources organic, pasture-raised beef soup bones, liver & shanks from Mendocino County with delivery in the Tri-City area.
- Whole Foods Market (Fremont)
- Sprouts Market
- Maiwand Market has a full service butcher stall with halal, grain-fed lamb & beef.
ORGANIC COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AGRICULTURE (CSA) & GREEN BUYING COOPS
- Holistic Moms Network Tri-City Chapter Buying coops for organic/green products from Azure Standard, Frontier Wholesale, Red Boat Fish Sauce (me), among other things...
- Dig Deep Farms CSA this is a locally grown, affordable social enterprise of the Alameda County Deputy Sheriff's Activities League
- Azure Standard this Oregon based farm & buying coop is a fantastic source for organic grains, and many many other consumer goods at wholesale prices. They have drop points all over the West Coast with drops in Newark and one in Warm Springs/Fremont.
- Frontier Coop a great organic wholesale buying coop. I have access through HMN but you could set up your own local coop.
RANDOM ORGANIC PRODUCTS
- Grocery Outlet Bargain Market (Newark, Fremont & Milpitas) In our household, we call it GrocOut. They have organic eggs, and random assortment of grocery items ranging from organic olive oil, salad mix, soy milk, etc.
Ăn Ngon Lành|Eat Delectably!
*Full disclosure: I am a Whole Foods Fremont Foodie Ambassador. What does that mean? I have no idea. This is a new unpaid pilot program that was launched to tie into the Fremont opening. WF gathered a select group of foodies who represent the diversity in Fremont as well as diverse dietary needs. We got to have a nice little wine & gnosh get together & swag before the grand opening in exchange for social media promotion. But nothing has happened since. Don't expect this to go to my head.
