You CAN trust corn in December

[christinajun]

As I often say, it's easy for Michael Pollan to insist on all-local-produce-all-the-time, because he lives in Berkeley, where one can get decent local produce year round. But for those of us who live in places where winter happens, it isn't so simple. Where do you "baffled" folks live and what exactly do you eat in midwinter?

I will admit to being spoiled by living in southern California, where we can get almost anything year-round at our local farmer's markets.

However, my point was simply to buy from California, Texas or Florida during those winter months, instead of buying from Mexico or elsewhere...

And you act as if there is a lack of fresh produce in midwinter, while I find that I am excited by winter produce--a hundred different kinds of winter squash, apples and pears...not to mention persimmons, pomegranates and citrus!

[carlux]

Well, I guess I'm spoiled because I live in south-west France,where we get fresh, local strawberries from mid-March to mid-October. And even later this year because November was so mild. And they are better than California strawberries.

But for most of the time we eat the way most of the French do - what's in season. Root vegetables in winter, asparagus for the weeks in spring that it's in season. There are obviously people eating imported tomatoes in the winter, because the supermarkets stock them, but I'd rather have red peppers or tinned tomatoes. (Even when we lived in Canada I was never a fan of off-season tomatoes, so it's not just the change of country and climate.)

[Reignking]

I eat asparagus year-round -- I don't see any difference in taste.

In fact, the only thing I can really taste a difference in are tomatoes -- because I hate them, unless they are really, really good -- and some fruit (local peaches, for example).

I don't even know what is seasonal. Are things grown locally in greenhouses seasonal? Should I eat root veggies in winter despite their being starches that aren't "real" veggies? It has all gotten too confusing. I'm sick of having to think so much about what I eat!

Edited January 3, 2010 by Reignking (log)

[Fat Guy]

I live in New York City. Stuff grows near here, though not enough to feed all of New York City, and it grows without creating water deficits with neighboring states. But it doesn't grow year round, and not everything grows here.

New York City is, by most accounts, one of the world's top food cities on many levels. This is the case despite the unavailability of local oranges, ever.

Today I went to the market where I do most of my shopping (Fairway on 75th and Broadway) and bought the following fresh produce items. I bought other stuff too, but these were the fruits and vegetables:

Sunset brand mini "Persian" cucumbers, from Mexico. Excellent.

Red-leaf lettuce. Origin unknown, but certainly not from the New York area in January, unless grown under glass, but that's unlikely. Fresh-tasting, unassailable.

Arugula. Origin similarly unknown. Superb arugula, as good as from the farmer's market in season I think.

Saladini brand crunchy sprouts, from Lush Life Gardens in New Jersey, presumably grown under glass. Crunchy and not particularly flavorful.

Green Giant carrots, package says product of USA presumably California. Bland but decent enough for mirepoix.

Earthbound Farm organic celery, Mexico. Ditto.

Yellow onions, origin unknown. Haven't tasted.

Red onions, origin unknown. Haven't tasted.

Russet potatoes, origin unknown. Haven't tasted.

Grape tomatoes from Florida, Wm. P. Hearn produce company, not as good at the Splendido ones from Mexico that weren't on the shelf this week.

[Fat Guy]

Also some clementines, origin unknown. The stickers on the individual fruits say nothing.

Bananas too.

I think it's safe to say that if I held out for local, seasonal oranges and bananas I'd never be able to get them in New York City.

As for what most people in France do, I'm sure there are statistics from a reliable source that we can call up, but it seems highly unlikely that the majority of people in any European country are eating mostly local produce.

[Aloha Steve]

Well folks, I buy frozen vegetables. Fresh asparagus, a lot of times, is either 7.99 a pound and yucky or cheaper and yucky. I toss the frozen in EVOO, a little garlic salt and roast and they taste very good to me.

One of my NY's res. is to buy, make and eat more veggies. Since my grocery of choice is 1/2 hour away, far by HI standards, I want to have veggies at hand. I just bought frozen brussels sprouts & spinach for the first time.

Fresh is better and supporting my local economy is preferable, but I eat frozen when need be.

[Fat Guy]

Well folks, I buy frozen vegetables.

Hear hear. It's always worth re-reading Mark Bittman's 2005 New York Times piece on frozen vegetables. Of particular interest are Michel Richard's comments on frozen Brussels sprouts.

[Jmahl]

Just had some corn on the cob here in South Texas. Better then the Summer stuff this year. Go figure.