Using Local Seasonal Ingredients

You will be astounded by what you can find at the local market

I just visited a local farmer’s stand on Sunday while I went apple picking with the mother-in-law. Let me tell you, nothing excites me than this time of year, when the produce comes into season. My two favorite times of the year are spring and fall.

I find that now the pendulum is swinging towards sustainablity. People are now more aware of the seasonality of ingredients. Finally the demand is lowering for strawberries in the middle of a snowstorm. With that said, I still find it mind boggling that people are still relying on the grocery stores for their fix of seasonal ingredients.

Let me share a story with you, from a late august back in 2005. My wife and I attended a wedding of a friend that took place on Hornby Island, British Columbia, Canada. The island was majestic, pristine, and almost touched. The problem I had back then was the produce was all shipped form California. Labeled as organic, it was about as sustainable as a tire floating in the ocean that lands at a beach.

Not 150 KM away lays the Okanogan fruit belt. You can truly get organic, locally grown produce there. Fact is though, most product availble for the island at major supermarkets hailed from California.

Now, I realize that what I am about to sugest is a little bit of hard work. You are going to have to get into your car, and drive to the outskirts of your town, or into the boonies in search of good produce.

I suggest you visit the farmer’s stand.

If you go out into the country, you can usually ask where there will be a kiosk. It may take a bit to find a stall, but keep on it. The reward will be the price you pay for quality, and for someone who has a passion for what they have grown.

For the next while, I am going to be concentrating on what is locally coming into season: