Zane Griffin runs Santa Cruz Local Foods. Photo by Chip Scheuer.
In addition to working for Companion Bake Shop and Crystal Creek Farm, Zane Griffin owns Santa Cruz Local Foods. SCLF assembles food boxes, which can be ordered online, and recently introduced donation-based sliding scales for certain boxes to accommodate low-income customers.
What did you envision when you took over?
I didn’t want people to work for me or under me, but for Santa Cruz Local Foods. I wanted to work for a cause.
What’s your favorite fruit?
Live Earth Farm had their first Blenheim apricot in five years. They’ve had crop failures these past few years—apricots are really tricky around here because of the coastal climate. They’re pretty out of this world, these apricots, and they’re happening right now. And there’s a really short window for them, just two or three weeks. So, I’m really encouraging my [customers] to preserve them—making jams or jellies or just preserves. They’re like candy. Some of the peaches that come later on in the summer are the best.
Would you rather walk up and down Front Street with your face covered in preserves or have lettuce in your shoes for a week?
Up and down Front Street happily with preserves, especially the ones we sell because they’re so good. Although I wouldn’t want to waste any food.
Do you spend a lot of time on the computer?
You have to constantly stay on top of what is available and connecting with the producers. You’re writing a lot of emails and making a lot of calls directly to the farmers, because customers are getting foods. It’s harvested to order. You really have to know what’s available to list it.
What’s the least healthy thing you eat?
Some of the pastries at Companion. There’s a lot of butter and milk in those, but you need those things, too. It depends. I eat meat as well. I eat locally produced meat that’s really good and really beneficial to your health in a lot of ways. I’m a sucker for donuts. I haven’t seen a local, organic, natural donut shop pop up. Maybe that’s an idea.
Can the organic food movement sometimes be exclusionary?
Absolutely. There’s less access to local organic food for low-income people, especially in urban areas. It’s important for the larger agencies—the USDA and the FDA—to continue to recognize organic producers as something that’s very valuable to poor communities and the health of those communities.
