Hailing from the Ozarks, Addie Broyles expanded her cooking (and eating) skills on the West Coast and Spain before settling in Austin, mainly for the aguas frescas at the taco stand down the street from her house where she, husband Ian and son Julian are now attempting to grow their own food in the backyard. They recently welcomed another baby boy and two chickens to the family.
Relishing food is about taking time to enjoy what has become the often hurried and mundane task of nourishing our bodies. Relish Austin is Addie's search for things that make her go "mmmm." High brow, low brow. Fast food, slow food. In Central Texas. On the Web. On the streets. In your garden and in your kids' lunch box. In your refrigerator and on your dinner table.
Relish Austin is also the name of Addie's print column that appears in the Austin American-Statesman a few times a month.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos are by Addie Broyles.
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By Addie Broyles
| Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 01:57 PM
A group of Austinites is hoping to open a zero-waste grocery store in East Austin this fall that, unlike traditional stores, doesn’t sell food in disposable packaging.
Customers at In.gredients will be asked to bring in their own containers or use the store’s reusable ones to buy items shipped in bulk instead of pre-packaged in boxes, bags or plastic.
In.gredients has started getting the word out about the project through its website, Twitter account and Facebook page.
Marketing director Brian Nunnery says that in order to open store as planned in October, they need to meet several fundraising goals before then. They have started taking contributions through Indie GoGo, but will be hosting other fundraising events later in the year.
I don’t think that they’ll get that funding help from me. I think this is a bit too over the top / enviro-PC for me. I’ll stick with Central Market, Whole Foods, and HEB, thanks. But if the customers and market can support it, more power to them.
I think this is an excellent idea. Things are way over packaged and at times I simply don’t buy because of that. Now as far as it catching on…well that may take some time. And you will also have to make sure if food is kept in bins for people to access that it doesn’t get contaminated. But overall I think it is inspiring.
Really Trip? It’s too “over the top” and “enviro-PC” for you?
Are you the person who looks at a normal bundle of celery at HEB, but then chooses the pre-cut packaged version that comes wrapped in a special sealed plastic bag for some inane reason?
There’s no reason to buy stuff wrapped in plastic; Other than filling up landfills, it’s a waste of oil and other resources, the production of it uses more resources, and it leaches carcinogens into everything (including the ground once you place it into the aforementioned landfill).
Are you working for a packaging company? Why else would you want everything wrapped in packaging?
While the concept of no packaging and and no waste may seem appealing, the fact is that food packaging plays a very important role in disease prevention and also reducing wastage of food by spoiling and adulteration. Therefore, there is a balance between the economics and safety of food handling and the amount of packaging used. Therefore, eliminating food packaging will come with substantial risks and detriments that do not appear to have been considered by this business idea.
I’ve seen too many people with questionable hygiene shopping in food stores - I don’t know that I could trust so much open food to not have some contamination. Just buying regular produce at HEB can give me the creeps if I think about it too much.
At least this kind of store should not have many, if any, kids with grabby hands.
There’s a reason it hasn’t been done before, it won’t work. My guess is that it doesn’t even get off the ground. If you want to truly eliminate “waste,” sell everything and go live in the woods and live off the land and not bother those of us who enjoy life’s conveniences. This is extreme “greenism” and frankly, it needs to go away.
Wow, so we should all just deem the idea as unworthy before it even starts??? LAME!!! Think of how many people have gotten e-coli or salmonella from PACKAGED food. Don’t be ridiculous! Go In.gredients!!
I was a cashier at a whole grocer and was astonished at how many plastic bags we gave out to customers a day. And everyone always had an excuse: “Oh, I parked all the way across the parking lot, so I can’t carry these three items 20 yards,” or “DARN IT! I never remember to bring my own bags. DARN ME! Could you please bag the vegetables separate from the meat and the cold frozen items separate from the cheese?” There were customers who came to the deli with their own tupperware containers to buy soup, ran outside in -10 degree weather to get their reusable bags out of the car, and re-used the bulk baggies until they were full of holes. It was clear that the latter group of customers were eliminating a lot of waste, and I am so grateful that there will be a store near me that offers such a practical method of buying indregients. To the nay-sayers: we are a culture obsessed with hygiene and sterility and, as a result, our stomachs are no longer able to fight small amounts of bacteria, increasing cases of illness. The kinds of people thoughtful enough to buy in bulk in the first place are probably thoughtful enough not to stick their hand in the flour barrel. It’ll certainly be cleaner than a restaurant kitchen, in any case. Woohoo In.gredient!
Love this idea. For those dissing it, the concept of no waste is already all around you and working - just not all in one place. Think farmer’s market meets bulk food aisle. Neither seem extreme or over the top to me. Looking forward to it.
Jeez, what’s with all the naysayers?! Why does everyone think it’ll be unsanitary? I’m guessing it’ll probably be a bulk store. HEB, Whole Paycheck, and Central Mark-up already have large bulk sections. Rainbow Grocery in SF has a huge bulk section and has already had a lot of success with people bringing in their own containers (they also have bags and disposable containers for those that forget or don’t give a shi*t).
I wish these guyssuccess.
The only problem I see with this is the “bring your own container” part. Thats going to cause more head ache than anything. Other than than that its pretty much just a distro point for local food stuffs…kind of like Sun Harvest but, local stuff only. Sort of a 7 day a week farmers market.
I remember the HEB @ I35 & Wm Cannon tried bulk in a major way around 25 years ago. Worked great for some things and not for others. Sometimes the bulk products were more expensive than the packaged. People did reach in with their hands for samples, but there are dispensers these days instead of open barrels. Contamination is nothing to be scoffed at, ask a German. The fundraising aspect makes you wonder. Doesn’t the city run some kind of small business incubator, what about a SBA loan? I hope this is legit and will try it out if it opens.
I can see how bringing your own containers would seem daunting to people doing mass grocery shopping (getting everything in one trip every two weeks or so). However, if you are like me and only get about one or two bags of groceries at a time but shop slightly more frequently it really isn’t such a big deal. And I live on the east side where the only nearby grocery store is HEB (and not a badass HEB like the one in Hancock Center either). After experiencing the joy of living in a place (Kyoto, Japan) where I had three small grocery stores in walking distance from my apartment where I could get fresh ingredients for my meals every single day without having to worry about anything going bad from overstocking my fridge I WELCOME a place like this in my neighborhood. Maybe people should start examining the way in which they purchase and consume things, and maybe, just maybe, start changing their habits a bit. Just because we grew up with a certain model doesn’t mean we have to perpetuate that model into the future. We can create new and better ones! If this particular model doesn’t work it will eventually fail, but why not give it a shot first???
As for the concern over pathogens, I was raised to wash my fresh fruit and veggies before consuming them… also, anyone remember the prepackaged spinach recall a few years ago. seriously.
Comments
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By Trip
June 16, 2011 4:04 PM | Link to this
I don’t think that they’ll get that funding help from me. I think this is a bit too over the top / enviro-PC for me. I’ll stick with Central Market, Whole Foods, and HEB, thanks. But if the customers and market can support it, more power to them.
By Jacquelyne
June 16, 2011 4:17 PM | Link to this
I think this is an excellent idea. Things are way over packaged and at times I simply don’t buy because of that. Now as far as it catching on…well that may take some time. And you will also have to make sure if food is kept in bins for people to access that it doesn’t get contaminated. But overall I think it is inspiring.
By Stan
June 16, 2011 4:29 PM | Link to this
Really Trip? It’s too “over the top” and “enviro-PC” for you?
Are you the person who looks at a normal bundle of celery at HEB, but then chooses the pre-cut packaged version that comes wrapped in a special sealed plastic bag for some inane reason?
There’s no reason to buy stuff wrapped in plastic; Other than filling up landfills, it’s a waste of oil and other resources, the production of it uses more resources, and it leaches carcinogens into everything (including the ground once you place it into the aforementioned landfill).
Are you working for a packaging company? Why else would you want everything wrapped in packaging?
By andy
June 16, 2011 4:30 PM | Link to this
That’s awesome, I’ve been thinking someone needed to do this for years.
By WAR
June 16, 2011 4:31 PM | Link to this
GREAT DONT COMPLAIN OF E. COLI OR OTHER BACTERIA WITH EVERYBODY PICK UP YOUR FOOD AND PUTTING IT BACK DOWN
By AgentG
June 16, 2011 4:51 PM | Link to this
While the concept of no packaging and and no waste may seem appealing, the fact is that food packaging plays a very important role in disease prevention and also reducing wastage of food by spoiling and adulteration. Therefore, there is a balance between the economics and safety of food handling and the amount of packaging used. Therefore, eliminating food packaging will come with substantial risks and detriments that do not appear to have been considered by this business idea.
By Nona
June 16, 2011 5:10 PM | Link to this
The city’s health department will have a field day with this concept.
By scott
June 16, 2011 5:16 PM | Link to this
yes, To much over the top, and I agree with AgentG, food posioning here I come. Dume to failure…
By scott
June 16, 2011 5:18 PM | Link to this
yes, To much over the top, and I agree with AgentG, food posioning here I come. Dume to failure…
By bitsy
June 16, 2011 5:36 PM | Link to this
I’ve seen too many people with questionable hygiene shopping in food stores - I don’t know that I could trust so much open food to not have some contamination. Just buying regular produce at HEB can give me the creeps if I think about it too much.
At least this kind of store should not have many, if any, kids with grabby hands.
By Deb
June 16, 2011 5:55 PM | Link to this
There’s a reason it hasn’t been done before, it won’t work. My guess is that it doesn’t even get off the ground. If you want to truly eliminate “waste,” sell everything and go live in the woods and live off the land and not bother those of us who enjoy life’s conveniences. This is extreme “greenism” and frankly, it needs to go away.
By cosmoguy
June 16, 2011 5:58 PM | Link to this
Wow, so we should all just deem the idea as unworthy before it even starts??? LAME!!! Think of how many people have gotten e-coli or salmonella from PACKAGED food. Don’t be ridiculous! Go In.gredients!!
By Velouria
June 16, 2011 6:39 PM | Link to this
This is a FANTASTIC idea! I can wait to bring the kids to this new grocery store. Way to go!!!
By Tyler
June 16, 2011 7:03 PM | Link to this
I was a cashier at a whole grocer and was astonished at how many plastic bags we gave out to customers a day. And everyone always had an excuse: “Oh, I parked all the way across the parking lot, so I can’t carry these three items 20 yards,” or “DARN IT! I never remember to bring my own bags. DARN ME! Could you please bag the vegetables separate from the meat and the cold frozen items separate from the cheese?” There were customers who came to the deli with their own tupperware containers to buy soup, ran outside in -10 degree weather to get their reusable bags out of the car, and re-used the bulk baggies until they were full of holes. It was clear that the latter group of customers were eliminating a lot of waste, and I am so grateful that there will be a store near me that offers such a practical method of buying indregients. To the nay-sayers: we are a culture obsessed with hygiene and sterility and, as a result, our stomachs are no longer able to fight small amounts of bacteria, increasing cases of illness. The kinds of people thoughtful enough to buy in bulk in the first place are probably thoughtful enough not to stick their hand in the flour barrel. It’ll certainly be cleaner than a restaurant kitchen, in any case. Woohoo In.gredient!
By look around
June 16, 2011 7:03 PM | Link to this
Love this idea. For those dissing it, the concept of no waste is already all around you and working - just not all in one place. Think farmer’s market meets bulk food aisle. Neither seem extreme or over the top to me. Looking forward to it.
By Armando
June 16, 2011 7:04 PM | Link to this
Good Idea, I don’t understand, you are asking for donations for what purpose ? Is this not a for profit organization ?
By This is...
June 16, 2011 7:29 PM | Link to this
Gay
By Jon
June 16, 2011 7:56 PM | Link to this
Pantry moth heaven!
By Armando
June 16, 2011 8:26 PM | Link to this
It’s a good idea for a limited spread of goods, why the donation request, is this not a for profit business start up ?
By Bobby
June 16, 2011 9:04 PM | Link to this
Sam’s Wholesale Club has been doing this for more than 15 years! Where is the Statesman story about Sam’s?????
By UpstartSpider
June 16, 2011 9:51 PM | Link to this
Jeez, what’s with all the naysayers?! Why does everyone think it’ll be unsanitary? I’m guessing it’ll probably be a bulk store. HEB, Whole Paycheck, and Central Mark-up already have large bulk sections. Rainbow Grocery in SF has a huge bulk section and has already had a lot of success with people bringing in their own containers (they also have bags and disposable containers for those that forget or don’t give a shi*t). I wish these guyssuccess.
By Nexxius
June 16, 2011 9:59 PM | Link to this
The only problem I see with this is the “bring your own container” part. Thats going to cause more head ache than anything. Other than than that its pretty much just a distro point for local food stuffs…kind of like Sun Harvest but, local stuff only. Sort of a 7 day a week farmers market.
By deeday
June 17, 2011 12:51 AM | Link to this
How can everyone possibly be freaking out over germs being spread when HEB and Central Market and Whole Foods ALL have bulk sections??
How many of you take the free cheese samples/bread samples from CM? And the warm and irresistible tortillas at HEB?
Wheatsville Co-op also has a large bulk section and they encourage customers to bring their own containers. Is everyone boycotting? I highly doubt it.
Chill out, y’all. This really isn’t a completely new concept.
By Southside Danny
June 17, 2011 9:55 AM | Link to this
I remember the HEB @ I35 & Wm Cannon tried bulk in a major way around 25 years ago. Worked great for some things and not for others. Sometimes the bulk products were more expensive than the packaged. People did reach in with their hands for samples, but there are dispensers these days instead of open barrels. Contamination is nothing to be scoffed at, ask a German. The fundraising aspect makes you wonder. Doesn’t the city run some kind of small business incubator, what about a SBA loan? I hope this is legit and will try it out if it opens.
By Sarah
June 17, 2011 2:28 PM | Link to this
I can see how bringing your own containers would seem daunting to people doing mass grocery shopping (getting everything in one trip every two weeks or so). However, if you are like me and only get about one or two bags of groceries at a time but shop slightly more frequently it really isn’t such a big deal. And I live on the east side where the only nearby grocery store is HEB (and not a badass HEB like the one in Hancock Center either). After experiencing the joy of living in a place (Kyoto, Japan) where I had three small grocery stores in walking distance from my apartment where I could get fresh ingredients for my meals every single day without having to worry about anything going bad from overstocking my fridge I WELCOME a place like this in my neighborhood. Maybe people should start examining the way in which they purchase and consume things, and maybe, just maybe, start changing their habits a bit. Just because we grew up with a certain model doesn’t mean we have to perpetuate that model into the future. We can create new and better ones! If this particular model doesn’t work it will eventually fail, but why not give it a shot first???
As for the concern over pathogens, I was raised to wash my fresh fruit and veggies before consuming them… also, anyone remember the prepackaged spinach recall a few years ago. seriously.
By Cheers
June 17, 2011 2:49 PM | Link to this
I wish to you the best of luck and success, here’s to hoping that this idea works out and catches on like wildfire.