As a mother of four, I have a responsibility to leave behind a world in which the next generation can live and enjoy the way we have been lucky enough to. After moving to Monterey and deciding to start Monterey Bay Food Tours, I have tried to incorporate partners who share this vision, are environmentally conscious, and want to preserve the beauty the Central Coast has to offer.
Revival Ice Cream, one of our original partners, epitomize this ideology sourcing their products locally from the likes of MEarth, a middle school garden sharing the vision with future generations. Revival uses re-usable tasting spoons and sells re-usable stainless steel pints that get you a $2 discount on pint refills. All of their cleaning products are 100% natural as their philosophy includes “living within the resources of the planet without damaging the environment now or in the future.”
Schoch Family Farmstead, one of our more recent additions, follows the same philosophy and provide the only Monterey Jack cheese still produced in Monterey County. Their cheese aging cellar relies on the naturally cold and high humidity in the air that they capture every night, which almost eliminates the need for artificial cooling and humidification. Most of the runoff from the operation is captured and utilized as irrigation water later in the season. The irrigation for the entire operation is mostly gravity-fed eliminating the need for electricity. One of the most unique practices is “spoon feeding” the nutrients the cows produce into the irrigation system to naturally fertilize the pastures without the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Ratel Cider, a local cider producer who makes ciders with close to zero residual sugars, source most of their fruit from orchards who use no fertilizers, but instead leave fallen fruit on the ground to go back into the soil keeping it fertile and nutrient rich.
One of our most unique spots is the historic Joseph Boston Store, run by volunteers from the Historic Garden League.They are very committed to sustainability by offering an array of hand-made, artisan products and organic food products made by local residents of Monterey County.
Another extremely unique partner who defines sustainability is Green Pedal Couriers. They deliver Heirloom Pizza to Fieldwork Brewery during our walking food tour. Green Pedal Couriers deliver food from 12 various restaurants around Monterey all the way to Carmel by bicycle.
Join us on a Monterey Bay Food Tour to try some of these local sustainable offerings, reducing the carbon foot-print, and learning more about our partners while taking in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, the California Central Coast.