KING CITY – La Cocina (The Kitchen) in King City became the first outdoor market in Monterey County to receive Blue Zone certification.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on August 2 in partnership with the King City Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture to honor La Cocina as a Blue Zones Project Inspired Market. More than 115 people attended the Friday night event, reaffirming the market vendors’ commitment to offering healthy, plant-based options on their menus.
“Blue Zones asked us to become Blue Zone certified, and we’re excited to be the first open-air market in Monterey County to achieve this status,” said La Cocina coordinator Tina Lopez. “Our vendors jumped on it right away. Some of them came up with something totally different, like marinated soy tacos, others made twists on the more traditional dishes.”
Lopez said some operators found they already had plant-based dishes that didn’t need to be changed, while others simply had to switch from frying to grilling.
“For the market, it’s about reaching and engaging a completely different audience,” Lopez said.
She added that by displaying healthier alternatives, people will learn what Blue Zones are all about and understand the longevity goals behind them.
The Blue Zones Project Monterey County promotes changes in local areas, from businesses to schools to urban planning, 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 are coming to the market, which means they’re contributing to a healthier change and improving the health of the community as a whole,” said Dalila Alvarado, food environment director for Blue Zones Project Monterey County. “That’s really unique and important for an outdoor market because it’s not just a place to get food, it’s also a gathering space, so it’s impacting the community in a different way.”
“It’s small steps to sustain change and get everyone to a healthier mindset,” Lopez said of the change for La Cocina in light of the entire King City’s certification as a Blue Zone.
“We found that many of them already offered plant-based dishes, but they weren’t really promoted,” Alvarado added.
Lopez explained that Blue Zones helped improve lifestyle by participating in light exercise, adopting a healthier diet, spending more time with family, building and maintaining a small circle of friends, and believing in a higher power, among other things.
“It’s about doing things that make you happier, healthier and prolong your life. That’s great for everyone everywhere,” Lopez said.
Making the transition to healthy eating was relatively easy, but it did involve overcoming some stereotypes about Latin American food. Lopez explained that people might assume that Mexican food is heavy on meat and fat.
“There’s a stereotype that Latin American or Mexican food is unhealthy because it’s often fried, but we really wanted to highlight the healthy plant-based dishes that are part of that cuisine,” Alvarado said.
Lopez noted that eating meat is seen as a sign of wealth in the culture, but the people she spoke with, including family members, are comfortable with plant-based dishes.
“The reality, especially if you live in the country, is that the diet is mostly plant-based and you eat meat once a week at most,” Lopez said.
“When we talked about Blue Zones and a focus on plant-based products, it was great for vendors to realize that these are dishes that we grew up with and that we already know how to make and that are part of our cuisine,” Alvarado added.
The vendors at La Cocina have also committed to sponsoring one of the weekly walks that King City hosts on Thursdays, where people gather at Town Square to watch about 15 minutes of entertainment and then take a short walk. Snacks are provided and there are also drawings for gift cards and children’s prizes.
“Walking is a very underrated form of physical activity,” Alvarado said.
Lopez pointed out that the walks are a great way to build bridges between cultures, as families and individuals from different backgrounds come to the events and they only have to invest one hour a week to work on living a healthier life.
In September, the city of Salinas will be certified as a Blue Zone. Alvarado said there are plans to certify King City as another city in the county next year. That will require commitments from employers, businesses, schools and government agencies, most of which are already in the works, she said.
“The approval of La Cocina complements this certification and hopefully King City will be a certified Blue Zones city next year,” Alvarado said.
La Cocina is open year-round on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the 800 block of Broadway Street in King City. This year marks the seventh year of the outdoor market.
