Staying local through the winter

Has anyone ever tried to buy the most perfect, succulent, sweet Georgia peach in December? Let me take a guess as to what the results were: either impossible or disastrous. We all know that December is not peach season, and that no Georgia growers are picking ripe peaches in December. Chances are if you bought a peach in December, it traveled thousands of miles to get here and did not come close to tasting like those perfectly sweet summertime peaches.

You can make a list of all kinds of fruits and vegetables that don't really grow in these parts this time of year, and of the amazing ones that do. And that my friends is where the good news lies. More and more farmers have more and more items available year round.

Atlanta Magazines Deborah Geering just put together a post revealing a pleasant surprise for Atlantans this year: those of us wishing to buy local, in-season produce this winter, have lots of different options! As Geering points out, no longer is the Morningside Farmer's Market "pretty much the only year-round game in town." Many more opportunities exist, casting a much wider geographic net. You can read Deborah's full posting here.

One of the offshoots of a site she mentions is the Atlanta Locally Grown site,. Here's what they say on their site: "Unlike other co-ops, buying clubs, or CSAs where everyone gets the same box of stuff (and you don’t know what your getting until you get it), with Locally Grown you get to order what you want, in the quantities that you want, from the farms that you want. The weekly email lists the produce, milled products, fresh flowers, and artisan goods available that week, and you can browse the items on this website before you place your order."

I know Melissa and some other folks have used the Nature's Garden Delivered site, and had positive experiences. Anyone else? Maybe a box of in season fruits and veggies would be a perfect holiday gift for some friends or family this year?

I've also used Moore Farms and Friends quite a bit, and have met Laurie and Will Moore at the Peachtree Road Farmer's market (they donated a bunch of veggies for a cooking class I did with Camp Sunshine kids years ago). Very fine people.

Riverview Farms, a staple at the Peachtree Road and Morningside Markets, I believe offers a meat CSA throughout the year. Their meat/pork is always tasty! I seriously think someone should put a meat CSA share on their list for Santa this year. 

You can also try growing your own veggies. Right now we're waiting to see how our brussels sprouts, cabbage, and broccoli are faring (we did get one little bunch of broccoli thus far). And I've come to learn that we have the midas touch when it comes to growing salad greens. Our rosemary is growing leaps and bounds, the mint is back with a venegance, and I'm planning to start some other herbs indoors soon. Just something really convenient about going and cutting up some of your own herbs for that last minute dish you decided to make!

Sure, it would be awesome to have fresh, delicious, locally grown peaches this time of year, but that just isn't going to happen and isn't how this part of the country is suited to grow. It would also be nice to have perfect 80 degree weather year-round, but that doesn't even happen in Southern California anymore. Buying what's in season, finding fresh and new ways to prepare seasonally available dishes is a fun way to keep your food "constantly varied" and it enables you to support the local farms.  

Make a pre-New Years resolution with me now: This December, venture on out to support the local farmers who work so hard to grow such amazing fruits and vegetables. Buy some of their farm fresh eggs or ask them questions about fun recipes involving the abundance of kale they have available. Shake the hand of a person who grew the food that will comprise your night's dinner. You won't be disappointed!

Who is with me? Who else is already buying seasonally and/or locally? What types of seasonally available dishes do you love making this time of year? What recipes are you struggling to find?

Comments

[Meredith]

We have a CSA share at Nature's Harmony Farm in Elberton, GA. They deliver in Atlanta and Marietta about every 5-6 weeks. You don't have to have a share to buy from them - they open their online shopping to everyone (but CSA members to get first dibs). They have all kinds of meat - chicken, beef, pork, duck, goose, turkey - and eggs, too. They have also recently started making cheese, and it is delicious! Tim and Liz are really neat people, too. Check them out - http://www.naturesharmonyfarm.com/