Now is the perfect time to eat locally!
Agincourt Branch recently hosted an information session with the Toronto Environmental Alliance (TEA), who stressed the importance of eating in season and locally grown foods. I happen to totally agree and now is the perfect time to visit a local farmers' market and savour the bounties of the earth. Most of your favourite fruits and vegetables are in season right now, from cauliflower and corn to tomatoes and zucchini. Not to mention, plums, peaches, blueberries and pears. Foodland Ontario gives you a handy chart to know what is in season and as an added bonus have links to scrumptious recipes such as Pasta with Fresh Garden Tomato Sauce. Yummy.
Why is it important to eat locally?
1. You are helping the environment and reducing the carbon footprint. Eating locally grown foods equals less travel/shipping time from field to dinner table.
2. You are supporting the local economy and local farmers. If you go to farmers' markets, you will get to actually meet and greet the people who grow your food; it is a good feeling!
3. And most importantly (to me, anyways) your food just tastes so much better. Food is picked at the peak of ripeness and freshness. Lots of small farmers also have heirloom and specialty varieties of fruits and vegetables that you just can't find in a large grocery store.
There are many ways you can start to become a "locavore", or someone who eats food that is locally produced. Frequent a farmers' market in your area: here's a list from the Toronto Farmers' Market Network. Try growing some of your own foods either in your yard on on your balcony: I recently planted a patio pot with cherry tomatoes and a window box with salad greens that is keeping me well supplied with tasty salads. If your grocery store doesn't stock at least some locally grown fruits and vegetables, ask them to start. There are also many great books, available from the library to help you on your journey:
Now is also a great time to try your hand at preserving some of the fruits and vegetables you are enjoying seasonally for the long winter ahead. Pickles, jams or preserves are a good start:
So, with all this great food around you, what are you waiting for?
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