Buy local, buy fresh

Always looking for the freshest and highest-quality foods? Look no further than your very own backyard – Durham Region. Foods grown in Durham are the best you can buy for many reasons.

And what’s in it for you?

Packed full of flavour and nutrients, locally grown foods are normally sold within a day or two of being harvested. That means these foods are picked at their peak ripeness, and you get the freshest product possible.

Ever eaten beans plucked right from the plant? Head to your local farm market starting early July and that’s what you can do. In the Americas, beans have been cultivated since as far back as 7,000 B.C., so you’ll be following in a long and healthy tradition by eating beans. Look for crisp beans that snap when broken; if the bean bends and does not break, it is probably too tough to eat or is drying out.

When you buy locally grown foods, you also contribute to saving the environment. Food travels an average of 2,400 kilometres before it reaches your plate, so when you buy from producers within the region, you help decrease pollution while increasing the quality of your food.

New potatoes will be arriving in mid-July, so check local farm markets regularly to get the first taste of a hearty vegetable loaded with nutrients. Foodland Ontario states that to get the best flavour from new potatoes, store them in the fridge, and eat within one week of purchase.

Buying from local producers also helps the economy. Economic impact studies indicate that every dollar spent locally generates two dollars of economic activity. It’s well worth supporting local producers so they in turn can support you.
While out visiting a local farm market, ask the farmer any questions you have about your food. When you buy directly from the farmer, you buy directly from the expert.

Both red and black currants, as well as gooseberries, are ready this month. All three fruits are excellent for jams, preserves, pies, and as added flavours to main dishes. Currants can also be eaten by themselves for a tasty mid-day snack. At the market, ask for recipe suggestions; producers have great meal ideas because they eat their own products all the time.

By buying from your local farmer, you also protect Durham region’s excellent farmland and beautiful countryside. By helping farmers stay viable, you ensure that your children and grandchildren will have access to high quality food, fresh air and clean water.
Both cucumbers and carrots begin ripening in July, and both make great, easy-to-prepare snacks while at the beach or playground.

Greenhouse cucumbers are also available from March to November, so you can get your local cucumber fix far outside the regular growing season.

While farmers try to do everything in the best interest of the plants they are growing, ultimately, Mother Nature decides the fate of the plants and what their growing season will be like. Always check at your local market for fruits and vegetables that have just come into season; you never know when the season will be early or late.

Summer raspberries will be starting their season midway through this month, and there is a good chance strawberries will still be available because of the cold weather in May.

Consider buying fresh fruits and vegetables, and canning or freezing them for use later in the year when they are not in season.
Fresh Durham peas are available this month and are great if saved for the winter months. Many people eat canned peas year-round. Why not make the extra effort so you can enjoy fresh local peas year-round? When buying, make sure the peas are a bright, glossy green, with ends that are green as well.

Local farm markets also have some year-round products, including eggs, meat, preserves, honey, maple syrup and more. Visiting a farm market is a great educational experience for children, and can be a productive as well as fun family outing.

For more information on where you can find any of these products, visit durhamfarmfresh.ca, or call 905-427-1512.