Welcome to the 12th anniversary issue of Edible Monterey Bay! Yes, it was fall 2011 when we published our very first issue. Seems not so long ago, but it has been long enough to watch kids grow up and go off to college, loved ones pass away and babies be born.
I know 12 is not a big round anniversary number, but it made me stop and think about why Edible Monterey Bay has been able to achieve success and longevity when other local publications come and go.
Why has a local food magazine launched in the aftermath of the Great Recession been able to thrive amidst COVID, paper shortages and skyrocketing print costs, not to mention the daily onslaught of Instagram reels and algorithms?
There are three key reasons.
First, it is due to our loyal readers. People in the Monterey Bay area care deeply about what they eat and where their food comes from. And they have a big appetite for food information. So—in addition to our weekly emails that are packed with timely food news—in print we strive to tell deeper stories about the farmers, food artisans and restaurants that make up the Monterey Bay foodshed in all its splendid abundance and diversity.
Which leads to reason number two, our quality content. Edible Monterey Bay works with highly skilled professional journalists, photographers, editors and graphic designers who have a genuine passion for storytelling. You can see and appreciate their talent in every issue.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than delivering a new edition of EMB and watching people’s eyes light up with excitement. “Finally! A magazine you can actually read,” I’m frequently told.
Of course the third reason is our wonderful advertisers—many of whom have been supporting our work since the beginning. Smart advertisers know that EMB readers spend a long time interacting with every issue (52 minutes on average, according to our research). They trust the ads they see in our magazine much more than a fleeting digital image, and the longer engagement results in better and longer lasting brand awareness.
It’s the perfect trifecta of readers, storytellers and loyal advertisers that create the foundation for Edible Monterey Bay’s success. I’m so grateful to all of you who are part of this values-driven publication. Here’s to the next 12 years!
Deborah Luhrman
Publisher
About the author
Deborah Luhrman is publisher and editor of Edible Monterey Bay. A lifelong journalist, she has reported from around the globe, but now prefers covering our flourishing local food scene and growing her own vegetables in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
