Going Local – Eating Seasonally

Today’s grocery stores are amazing. You can get any type of produce, any time of year. Who would have thought, in the 80’s that you could buy watermelon or apricots in December? Or sweet potatoes in July? Thanks to the global market, when things are out of season here, produce is flown in from places south of the U.S., like Chile, southern Mexico and even as far away as New Zealand. It makes things so much more accessible and convenient. But is it really BETTER?

Sure it’s great to be able to buy whatever you want whenever you want, but there’s something about the anticipation of the first vine-ripened tomato of the season, and shucking fresh corn on the cob for a summertime family barbeque. For some reason, when you have to wait for it, it tastes better. There’s also that association we have with different foods that we eat at certain times of year. Juicy fresh ripe peaches that drip down your chin with the first bite....in December? See, to me that just seems wrong!

When we buy produce that comes from other countries, we have to consider what it goes through to get here. Often times it gets from the farm to the grocery market in remarkable time, due to modern aviation. Produce is flown in from Central and South America. The more we purchase, the more jet fuel is needed to bring these products to us. Imagine the difference in fossil fuels needed to bring a Chilean apricot to your local market, versus one that you pick up at your local farmer’s market.

Meanwhile, there are farmer’s markets popping up all over the country - year round in some areas (like California) and seasonally in other regions of the U.S. Farmers markets are a win-win for both local farmers and local residence. Patrons are able to talk directly with the farmers about their produce and get the freshest products, often picked that same day. Farmer’s are able to sell the fruits (veggies, eggs, etc.) of their labor locally and directly, without dealing with a wholesaler. And the money spent on local produce remains in the local economy.

For our family, farmer’s market is a weekly experience. My kids love sampling strawberries from the various vendors, to make sure that we buy the BEST ones. It gives them purpose, and definitely satisfies a sweet tooth! As you go regularly you get to know the families and farmers that you buy from, since most of these farms are a family affair. You can find almost anything at a farmer’s market; from your typical fruits and vegetables, to local eggs, cheese, baked goods, flowers, even crafts.

Some farmer’s markets are “certified”. This means that if it is a county “certified” farmer’s market, then all of the products sold have to have been grown or created within that county. Other’s may be state certified, meaning the products sold have to come from within the state. Either way, talk to the vendors there and ASK them where the food is grown, how it’s grown (do you use pesticides, herbicides, etc.).

Next week we’ll get more into organic and sustainable farming and the differences and similarities between them. For more information on where to find a farmer’s market in your area, here are a couple of websites to peruse:
http://www.localharvest.org/
http://www.farmersmarket.com/

So find a little time this week to find a local farmer’s market, and go check it out. You may be surprised by what you find.