Even before I'd heard of the 100-Mile Diet effort, I was trying my best to eat locally-produced food, just as I try to shop for clothing, books, gifts and household items locally. In the last five years many businesses in my small community closed; my husband and I have made an effort to patronize those that remain as much as possible. Many of the small business owners have become friends.What will we do in three weeks when the local farmer's market closes for the winter? Since mid-July, we have bought 95 percent of our vegetables and 85 percent of our fruit from local farmers. Prices are about 55 percent lower than the supermarkets and the quality is much higher. I am certain this is true in your community as well.
The bottom line is: We have eaten better and more economically since July, when the market opens here. We have enjoyed fabulous corn on the cob, wonderful cucumbers and tomatoes and onions, and I've made ratatouille with the plentiful eggplant which augmented my own supply. We've had berries, pears, plums, apples and currants. Today I bought late-season peas, four small heads of cabbage, pumpkin, zucchini and cucumbers.Each time I visit, there is some surprise, it seems. Feeling sick earlier in the week, I skipped the Tuesday market. What I found today was vivid color everywhere. How lucky we are to have outdoor markets in these days of packaging and marketing and overpricing.
Sometimes, if you are lucky, a skein of Canada geese will fly overhead while you are buying a pumpkin or a bag of apples. You run into a friend clutching a steaming cup of coffee. You catch a whiff of wood smoke or the wine-rich aroma of leaves and you will know it is fall and you are thankful.
9 comments:
Such a sad time when the markets close. I remember from when I lived in Minneapolis - it meant winter was truly on it's way. Can't say I miss it...and I do like having year 'round markets. I'll send sympathy and empathy....but I won't trade places ;)
Here in New Zealand "farm markets" are all year events. We don't have the harsh winters in our northern regions and are able to grow many veggies all year round. Though there is always a lot more produce and a greater variety available in the summer months.
I prefer to buy from local growers, rather than the supermarkets. The quality, taste and price are usually far superior.
How lucky you are, both of you, to have year-round markets. O e of the local grocery stores — it has two local outlets — at least tries to have good produce and often succeeds, as long as it is somehting that is commonly used, like salad fixings or fairly popular vegetables. Nothing very exotic.
Oh well. Such is life.
Oh Mimi.....how will you manage, just kidding!You are right on about having the best produce all summer from the local markets....there is nothing as good! Imagine having none of this...as it is for me here in my neck of the woods!
Where are you that you are so deprived, Jann? I guess I have misunderstood your location. I thought you were in a warmer part of the country than the north-of-Green Bay tundra!
hi
mimi
i just love market photos and writeups it feels as though you are actually visiting that place
pls post some more photos of the vegetable and also the coffee shop so that we can see the market properly.
so you have to also what you cooked with all the vegetables that you got from the market.
Virtually everything I've made here has been chiefly made from local ingredients, Mahek. Even the cherries are from less than 100 miles away.
For the past 3-4 months, only our meat, bread, milk and coffee has come from the supermarket. Oh, and a few staples like flour, butter (or Smart Balance). We've been spoiled by fresh produce.
Unfortunately, I've had no time for cooking this week.
mimi
you said you did not have time to cook so during such days what do you eat as there is home cooking done everyday in almost all homes in india i think, atleast in mine and so many others i know of.
so tell me what are the ready options you can get so that i can use some tips to create a non-cooked meal
bye
mahek
Mahek, on busy days I usually eat something simple like cottage cheese, tomato, a green vegetable and maybe chicken or fish. I make soups and stews in advance, freeze them, and then eat those on busy days with a salad and a hunk of baguette. I do not do fast food, and I do not each much prepared food either. Right now I have frozen beef stew in the fridge — I'll post the recipe — there are two that I use — soon!
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