(HOST) With the gardening season all but over, commentator Charlie Nardozzi has been contemplating the plight of the localvore in winter – and devising some strategies.
(NARDOZZI) This time of year it’s always hard for me to believe the glut is over. For 5 months I’ve been feasting on fresh vegetables, wild greens, and sumptuous fruits from my garden and yard. But as sure as deer will find a way to nibble on my blueberry bushes, a cold wind in October put an end to all that summer bounty. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still eating well from the garden. The Brussels sprouts, greens, peas, beets, carrots, and kale are still producing, but the end is drawing near.
Okay, so I’ve stored a bunch of winter squash and potatoes in my semi-heated garage, canned every tomato that didn’t succumb to blight, and froze a boat load of veggies. But eventually I’m going to run out of home grown food and will face the dilemma of the grocery store in winter. While the consensus in Vermont is local is best and organic local is better, there are the realities of availability, price, and, oh yes, cravings. Sure, I can keep eating local organic carrots all winter, but what about some eggplant for my mother’s Christmas eggplant parmesan recipe?
I’m pleased to say that winter farmer’s markets and CSA’s are popping up all over the state. These markets give farmers income in the winter and you and me fresh, local food to eat. So that’s one option. But still that won’t supply me and my family with everything we need. So the question comes down to what to buy at the grocery store. In winter much of our fresh produce comes from overseas. Kitchen Gardener’s International reports that 9.5 million food shipments arrive in the U.S. each year. The problem is we often don’t know how that food was grown and how safe it is. Then, what about organic produce shipped from the other side of the country? Michael Polland of Omnivore’s Dilemma fame writes in a recent interview in Organic Gardening magazine that most organic leaning consumers would be shocked to see the corporate farms some organic produce comes from. Some are large industrial farms that turned to organics just to make a better profit. However, at least you know they’re following organic practices.
So what to buy? First, support local farmers that you know are following good farming practices. Second, stay organic and in this country. Third, and most importantly, buy fresh food without any guilt. Yes, healthy food is important to nourish us and our families, but it is also a social and community event. It’s more important to feel good about cooking and eating fresh food with families and friends, regardless of where it came from, than to feel guilty about buying squash from California or grapes from Chile in winter. As with any ecological system, our food supply should be diverse. Some local, some national, and even some international. A diverse food system is more resilient and variety fosters a culture of enjoying food.
(TAG) You can find more commentaries by Charlie Nardozzi on line at VPR-dot-net.