Ontario Strawberries are the reason I started out promoting and enjoying local food. Nothing beats the smell and the tasted of a freshly plucked strawberry from the field. So this time of year puts a spring in my step and makes my belly sing! Ontario produce is finally here!!
Over the past four weeks, we have embraced for the third year, Coopers Farm CSA Share with much delight and glee. So far, we have received: strawberries, rhubarb, a variety of lettuce, green onions, spinach, asparagus, garlic scapes and sugar snap peas.
One of my favourite recipes at this time of year is Strawberry and Rhubarb Sorbet courtesy of Canadian Living www.canadianliving.com/food/strawberry_rhubarb_sorbet.php. This recipes works best with fresh ingredients but I have also made it in the dead of winter with frozen from the farm, which is just as good.
Good Things Grow in Durham Region (as published in the Brooklin Town Crier May 21st)
Thinking of all the delicious produce that will be coming my way over the next couple of months from my Farm Share is making my mouth water. I have survived the winter and early spring months, but just barely. The supermarket-ripened produce from overseas pales in comparison to picked fresh and ripe Ontario produce, but, given the short growing season, this is our reality.
Spring is a perfect time to start thinking about how we can increase the amount of local produce in our diet. When we support our local farmers, we are supporting responsible land development and providing an economic reason for the farms to stay operational.
Supermarkets are now highlighting produce that is from Ontario, making it easier to buy local. Even though supermarkets tend not to buy from the smaller farmers, it does mean that your produce is not traveling long distances.
Farmers Markets - Produce that you purchase at your local farmers’ market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness means that, not only does your food taste great, but also that the nutritional value is at its peak. In addition, you will find that there is a greater variety of produce that you do not always find in the grocery store because the farmer does not have a high-yield demand so is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables. My favourite find at the market was purple carrots! (My Earlier post lists the farmers markets in Durham Region)
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farms - This is a great way to experience local produce while supporting a local farmer. You can either arrange for your weekly supply of produce to be delivered to your home or you can pick it up from the farm. In return, you are supporting sustainable farming practices and contributing to a reliable, healthy, local food supply that provides decent and reliable income for the farmers. This will be my third year participating with Coopers CSA Farm in Zephyr. Here is a list of CSA farms that deliver to Brooklin:
Coopers CSA Farm – www.coopersfarm.ca
Svetec Farm -www.svetecfarms.com
Zephyr Organics - www.zephyrorganics.com
Visit a Local Farm - Durham Region is home to incredible farms with over 70 Durham Farm Fresh members harvesting more than 30 different fruits and vegetables. Everything from strawberries and apples to pumpkins, squash, and Christmas trees are locally grown and sold at farm gates and markets across the Region. For a listing of farms in Durham Region visit www.durhamfarmfresh.ca.
Urban Farming (a.k.a. “Growing your own”) – There are so many reasons why we should all try to grow something edible in our gardens or in a container. There is so much satisfaction in picking a sun-ripened tomato off the vine or snipping a few fresh herbs into your soup. It also provides a great opportunity to teach children how food grows. I know from personal experience that it has taught my daughters a greater appreciation for the food on their plate. If you do not want to grow the food in your own backyard, you could get involved in a community garden which allows community members to come together to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and learn from each other. Visit the Whitby-Ajax community garden website for more information at www.wacg.ca.
I would like to challenge you, the readers, to try something new this summer, whether it be a new variety of tomatoes from the farm stand, trying your hand at growing your own vegetables or visiting a local farm. You will be amazed by the freshness and flavour of the produce and at the same time be supporting an important segment of our economy.
Spring is a perfect time to start thinking about how we can increase the amount of local produce in our diet. When we support our local farmers, we are supporting responsible land development and providing an economic reason for the farms to stay operational.
Supermarkets are now highlighting produce that is from Ontario, making it easier to buy local. Even though supermarkets tend not to buy from the smaller farmers, it does mean that your produce is not traveling long distances.
Farmers Markets - Produce that you purchase at your local farmers’ market has often been picked within 24 hours of your purchase. This freshness means that, not only does your food taste great, but also that the nutritional value is at its peak. In addition, you will find that there is a greater variety of produce that you do not always find in the grocery store because the farmer does not have a high-yield demand so is free to try small crops of various fruits and vegetables. My favourite find at the market was purple carrots! (My Earlier post lists the farmers markets in Durham Region)
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Farms - This is a great way to experience local produce while supporting a local farmer. You can either arrange for your weekly supply of produce to be delivered to your home or you can pick it up from the farm. In return, you are supporting sustainable farming practices and contributing to a reliable, healthy, local food supply that provides decent and reliable income for the farmers. This will be my third year participating with Coopers CSA Farm in Zephyr. Here is a list of CSA farms that deliver to Brooklin:
Coopers CSA Farm – www.coopersfarm.ca
Svetec Farm -www.svetecfarms.com
Zephyr Organics - www.zephyrorganics.com
Visit a Local Farm - Durham Region is home to incredible farms with over 70 Durham Farm Fresh members harvesting more than 30 different fruits and vegetables. Everything from strawberries and apples to pumpkins, squash, and Christmas trees are locally grown and sold at farm gates and markets across the Region. For a listing of farms in Durham Region visit www.durhamfarmfresh.ca.
Urban Farming (a.k.a. “Growing your own”) – There are so many reasons why we should all try to grow something edible in our gardens or in a container. There is so much satisfaction in picking a sun-ripened tomato off the vine or snipping a few fresh herbs into your soup. It also provides a great opportunity to teach children how food grows. I know from personal experience that it has taught my daughters a greater appreciation for the food on their plate. If you do not want to grow the food in your own backyard, you could get involved in a community garden which allows community members to come together to grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers and learn from each other. Visit the Whitby-Ajax community garden website for more information at www.wacg.ca.
I would like to challenge you, the readers, to try something new this summer, whether it be a new variety of tomatoes from the farm stand, trying your hand at growing your own vegetables or visiting a local farm. You will be amazed by the freshness and flavour of the produce and at the same time be supporting an important segment of our economy.
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