‘Everyday Locavores’ is a series dedicated to spotlight the people who enrich and sustain our food systems in many ways. Through short-format visual essays, we offer you a glimpse into their everyday lives, work, pleasures, and realities.
Every day, countless individuals work tirelessly to sustain our local food systems. From vegetable vendors and archivists preserving vanishing recipes, to dairy farmers that milk their cows before dawn and paowallas who cycle around selling fresh bread, these are the people who feed us, and, in turn, shape our diverse experiences of food.
‘Everyday Locavores,’ a new series from The Locavore aims to capture lesser known faces whose labour often goes unnoticed, but is integral to how we engage with food.
Who are the people—in your cities, towns, and villages—whose stories around food you think must be highlighted? The Locavore is excited to hear from storytellers around the country about the real faces of our local food systems.
“There’s a stark difference in how people live here”
—Ram Nivas, who runs a bhelpuri-sevpuri-jhaalmuri stall
“They’ve started dumping cement there. It results in smaller, less meaty oysters that take longer to form”
—Ratna and Alka, Koli fisherwomen in Mumbai
“Being the eldest daughter in my family, I learnt to cook early on”
—Awule Lasuh, who cooks office lunches for 30+ employees
“There is no first aid, or protective gear to stave off such injuries. There are no toilets, no shade”
—Jamuna Khatuwa, a coastal fishworker
“Every homestay has a cook now. Tourists rarely come to eat here”
—Sushila Panwar, who runs Aunty Ka Dhaba, a roadside eatery and convenience store
“I hadn’t even driven a car when I began with the tractor”
—Ratish, who pushes and moors fishing boats
“Two years ago, I did not know my rights”
—Kavita Devi, 35, a domestic worker and active member of Delhi Gharelu Kaamgar Union
“We feel sad when they’re taken; we’ve raised them from birth. If they have kids, you’re constantly reminded of the loss”
—Jagdamba Dhuliya, who runs a goat farm in Jagatpur village
“Everything is so expensive now. Even tomatoes cost ₹100/kg. It’s not easy, but we manage”
—Janabi and Samir, a couple running a gaddo in Goa
“I love this job, and work hard for this money—why should I hide it?”
—Chandrakant Pant, who sells hilly edibles from his mini-truck
“Now there’s not even a drop in the cold rooms; it’s all dry”
—Sagar Hamav, worker at the Versova Ice Factory, Mumbai
“The BMC, police, courts, don’t belong to us; we only have each other”
—Naveen Yadav, a street vendor and activist in Mumbai, to whom running his stall is a political act.
“You should’ve come when we get bombil. It is beautiful, every surface of Mandav is covered with it”
—Leela Solanki, who dries fish at Versova village in Mumbai
“After my father’s passing, we took over the cart, but did not touch his special dabeli masala recipe”
—Dipesh Rajgor, who has been working at his father’s esteemed Mohan Dabeli Stall in Bhuj, Gujarat
“It’s the only way of life”
—Brijesh Kashyap, whose family has been making malai makkhan in Lucknow’s Gol Darwaza for three generations dating back to the 1940s.
“The root crops are at risk of disappearing, […] compelling Reshma and Nagveni to strive to protect them”
Reshma and Nagveni, a duo rooting for tubers in Joida
“Watching a large fish being caught for the first time as a kid, it stayed with me”
—Achchu, a fisherman from Lakshadweep
“I wanted to start a shop that was my own. I didn’t want to depend on anyone”
—Nagasri, who runs a dosa shop in Madhura Nagar, Hyderabad
“The guts, blood, all the bits that are thrown out; there’s filth in this work, but it’s also a part of (our) life”
—Ashik, a fish-seller in Saki Naka, Mumbai
Have an Everyday Locavore you’d like to document? We’d love to hear from you—send us a pitch on content@thelocavore.in. And stay tuned to our Instagram for more stories and updates on this new series.
• The stories must be between 350-500 words.
• The narration can have a personal connection, but must largely focus on the subject.
• Direct quotes from the subject are critical, and must be recorded accurately.
• The text should be tonally strong—whether it is descriptive, evocative, or humorous.
• We also welcome photo series (8-10 photos) with shorter text, or detailed quotes from the subject.
• Since our aim is to feature unique and lesser told stories, we prefer to avoid those that have been widely covered.
• Submit at least 10 photos, so that our team can choose 4 to 5. If you are able to record short videos (ideally in vertical mode), our team can edit to use as a part of the visual essay.
• The photographs should be varied and evocative: of the person at work, the spaces they inhabit, food and objects they work with, and other details that will bring the story to life.
• For at least one photograph, ask the subject how they would like to be captured. We would like to include this portrait, should they have any preferences. The rest can be candid.
• Ensure the photographs are of high resolution.
• If the subject has relevant photographs to share, these can be included as well.
• Images and text should complement each other rather than merely mirroring.
• Include at least one or two photographs that prominently feature the person you are profiling.
• Obtain the subject’s permission for interviewing them and sharing their story.
• Make sure to also take permission before photographing the subject.
• For sensitive topics, make sure the person you are profiling is comfortable for them to be included in the story.
• Run the story by the person you are profiling; if that is not possible, give them an essence of the story and inform them that it will feature on social media and other public platforms.
• Inform the subject that they may withdraw from this process at any time, should they feel uncomfortable.
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