The foraging in Santa Cruz is world-class, thanks in part to the town’s longstanding love affair with sustainable everything.
Fallen Fruit (http://scfoodnotlawns.weebly.com/fallen-fruit.html) The folks at Food Not Bombs are working on mapping all the fruit trees on public property. Why pay top dollar for deliciousness when you can just let it drop into your hands?
The Food Bin/The Herb Room (1130 Mission St, Santa Cruz. 831.423.5526) This tiny two-building combo packs it all: organic fruits and veggies, bulk staples and healthy snacks (no meat, though) at the Food Bin, and in the Herb Room vitamins and boatloads of bulk (read: cheap) cosmetics and essential oils. Plus they’re open til midnight, God love ‘em.
New Leaf Market (1101 Fair Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.426.1306; 1134 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.425.1793; 1210 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.479.7987; 13159 Hwy 9, Boulder Creek, 831.338.7211; 6240 Hwy 9, Felton, 831.335.7322) Santa Cruz’s homegrown health food chain sources almost entirely from local farmers and features a FishWise-approved seafood counter, which means everything in it is sustainably caught or farmed. That is so hot. New Leaf also has a pretty righteous bulk foods department and some screaming deals on wine.
Oroweat Bakery Outlet (2740 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.476.5027) Home of the dollar bag of English muffins and other day-old bread deals, this storefront also carries spice and soup mixes, Bob’s Red Mill flours and grains, Odwalla juices and Entenmann bakery items for a song.
Shopper’s Corner (622 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz. 831.423.1398) The original gourmet grocery in town has a huge wine department, famous butcher counter, great produce and exactly the right one of everything else. Seriously, whatever weird ingredient you’re looking for, you will find it here.
Staff of Life (1305 Water St, Santa Cruz. 831.423.8632) Very often in Santa Cruz when you meet a hardcore hippie, that person is a Staff of Life shopper. Gorgeous local produce, an award-winning bulk foods department that translates to huge savings, the first natural meat counter in town and plans to move to a fabulous new location across the street all mean good things for Midtowners and other people who like their food with a wholesome history.
Stagnaro Bros Outdoor Fish Market (Municipal Wharf, Santa Cruz; 831.423.2180) Walk a little, save a lot. Stagnaro’s seafood counter is the place for whole fish (good for grilling for parties) and fillets for special occasions, as well as crabs, lobster and shellfish of all kinds. It’s Bring Your Own Seafood Watch card, though, if you want to make sure you’re getting the sustainable stuff. (You can download those at the Monterey Bay Aquarium site: http://www.mbayaq.org.)
Trader Joe’s (700 Front St, Santa Cruz, 831.425.0140; 3555 Clares St, Capitola, 831.464.0115) It ain’t local and the produce comes wrapped in plastic, but when you’re on a budget, there’s nothing like TJ’s. Inexpensive snacks, cheeses, wine and frozen entrees (with lots of vegetarian and organic options) are Trader Joe’s stock in trade, and locals looking to stretch a dollar are grateful for it.
Whole Foods (911 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 831.426.9901; 1710 41st Ave, Capitola, 831.464.290) The luxe national health food chain store carries some local produce and a few sustainable seafood options, along with grass-fed beef and other natural meats. The bulk section has some great deals, and the Soquel Avenue location offers a large selection of prepared foods.
