KING CITY — La Cocina (The Kitchen) in King City has been recognized as the first outdoor market in Monterey County to be Blue Zones certified.
A membership ribbon cutting was held Aug. 2 in conjunction with the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture to honor La Cocina becoming a Blue Zones Project Inspired Market. More than 115 people attended the Friday evening event, marking the market vendors’ commitment to provide healthy, plant-based options on their menus.
“We were approached by Blue Zones to become Blue Zones certified and we are excited that we are the first open-air market in Monterey County to achieve that status,” said La Cocina coordinator Tina Lopez. “Our vendors jumped right in. Some of them came up with something completely different, like marinated soy tacos, then others did the more traditional dishes with alterations.”
Lopez said some vendors found they already had plant-based dishes that needed no changes. Others only needed a switch from frying a dish to grilling it.
“For the market, it’s touching a whole different audience and inviting them in,” Lopez said.
She added that being able to see healthier options lets people know what Blue Zones is about, and understand the longevity-related intentions behind it.
Blue Zones Project Monterey County is encouraging changes in local areas, from businesses, to schools, to city planning, in order to help community members live longer, healthier lives. The project is based on the research of National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner.
“A lot of people attend the market, so it means that they are contributing to a healthier change and therefore improving community health as a whole,” said Dalila Alvarado, food environment lead for Blue Zones Project Monterey County. “It’s really unique and important for an outdoor market because not only are they a place to get food, but also a gathering space, so it impacts the community in a different way.”
“It’s baby steps, keeping that shift going and get everyone thinking healthier,” Lopez said of the change for La Cocina as it relates to King City in its entirety becoming Blue Zones certified.
“What we found was a lot of them already offered plant-based dishes, but it wasn’t really promoted,” Alvarado added.
Lopez explained some of the ways Blue Zones has encouraged improved lifestyles includes participating in low-impact exercise, adjusting foods to healthier options, spending more time with family, having a small circle of friends and keeping in touch with them, and having faith in a higher power.
“It’s doing things that make you happier, healthier and live longer, and that’s great for everybody everywhere,” Lopez said.
The switch to healthy foods was relatively simple, but came with dealing with a few stereotypes about Latin American food. Lopez explained there can be an assumption that Mexican cuisine is heavy on meats and grease.
“There’s a stereotype that Latin American or Mexican food is unhealthy because of a lot of it is deep fried, but we really wanted to highlight the healthy plant-based dishes that are part of the cuisine,” Alvarado said.
Lopez noted the cultural perception that eating meat is seen as a sign of affluence, but people she’s talked to, including family members, are familiar with plant-based dishes.
“The reality, especially if you’re living in the country, is that it is mostly plant-based and meat is a once-a-week thing, if that,” Lopez said.
“It was great for the vendors to realize when we talked about Blue Zones and a plant-based focus, these are dishes we grew up eating and dishes we already know how to make and they’re part of our cuisine,” Alvarado added.
Vendors at La Cocina also committed to sponsoring one of the weekly walks King City hosts on Thursdays. There, people meet at Town Square to view entertainment for about 15 minutes, and then take a short walk. Snacks are provided and drawings for gift cards and kids’ prizes are also held.
“Walking is a very underrated form of physical activity,” Alvarado said.
Lopez noted the walks have been a great way to bridge cultures, since families and individuals from different backgrounds come to the events, where they only have to spend one hour out of their week to work toward a healthier life.
September marks the Blue Zones certification of the city of Salinas. Alvarado said there are plans in place for King City to be another certified city in the county within the next year. To do so would require commitments from employers, businesses, schools and government agencies, most of which she noted are already in the works.
“With La Cocina becoming approved, it adds on to that certification and hopefully next year King City will be a certified Blue Zones city,” Alvarado said.
La Cocina is open year-round on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. on the 800 block of Broadway Street in King City. This year marks the outdoor market’s seventh season.
