Harrowsmith – September 2019

HarrowsmithFall 2019 | 103

FOOD & RECIPES: LOCAVORES

an urbanite wandering around

the abundant produce section, it

is easy to lose track. Seasonal-

availability charts are easy to

access online, print and add to

the photos on the fridge. They

tell us that, in Canada, asparagus

appears in May, strawberries in

June, corn in August and acorn

squash in October. Also revealed

are which fruits and vegetables

possess longevity when carefully

stored—like locally grown

apples, cabbages, onions and root

vegetables, which are available

all winter.

2

Eat seasonally. This

is the way we used to eat

before the age of refrigerated

semis and food-filled flights from

China. Freshly picked, locally

grown harvests are a taste treat

not to be missed. “Get it before it’s

gone” is a worthy motto.

3

Seekoutsources

forlocallygrown

foods.Thankfully,it’s

nothardtomovebeyondthe

producesection.

• Farmers’ markets:
  Delectable choices—picked
  within the last 24 hours—
  tempt from all sides. Striking
  up conversations with farmers
  selling their offerings is part of
  the charm. Keep in mind that
  year-round markets featuring
  bananas and pineapples are
  not all that different from the
  produce section. Buyer beware.
  
  
  • U-picks: In the berry patch,
    time slows to a meditative
    pace, far removed from the
    busyness of our lives. With
    good picking and patience, it’s
    easy to gather enough for both
    immediategratificationand
    preserving—sosatisfying.
  
  
  • Farm stands: Meandering
    down country roads and
    finding just-picked fruits and
    vegetables at the edge of a field
    is one of life’s pleasures. It
    always pays to stop, mull
    and buy.
  
  
  
  

What isa

locavore?

• EnglishOxfordDictionary:
  Apersonwhosediet
  consistsonlyorprincipally
  oflocallygrownor
  producedfood.


• Dictionary.com:Aperson
  whomakesanefforttoeat
  foodthatisgrown,raised,
  orproducedlocally,usually
  within 100 milesofhome.


• Merriam-Webster
  Dictionary:Onewho
  eatsfoodsgrownlocally
  wheneverpossible.


• MacmillanDictionary:
  Someonewhotriestoeat
  foodwhichisgrownor
  producednearwhere
  theylive.