For the past two weeks we have witnessed what seem like a full fledged Summer weather pattern, but no matter how badly we may like the warm weather to stay we must brace for what is to surely come. With so many different fruits and vegetables being grown in greenhouse, imported from other states and counties, it can be difficult, unless you are a farmer yourself, to know for certain what is really in season where you live.
Here in the Northeast, we are fortunate to gather few fruits in the warm summer months and have a very short fall time frame to harvest our apples, pears, cranberries and grapes. Although the autumn months are beautiful and drive tourism, the food industry heavily relies on other parts of the nations to provide fresh fruit from the brining of fall into the following summer months.
Fall Vegetables are much more plentiful and can be distributed across the country. You are able to find well balances root vegetables that are sure to please your guests palates. Vegetables such as; beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chard, collards, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, garlic, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, salad greens, spinach, squash, sweet potato and turnips.
Consumers truly enjoy locally sourced and produced foods, it makes them feel connected to the area they live in, dine in and spend money in. It not only helps with the cycle of business but, it also makes sure that produce is not wasted and is benefiting everyone when it is produced. One of our favorite ideas comes to us from local farms in the Northeast Area. The local flavors are bold, fresh and full of life and farmers are more than willing to take a few extra minutes and deliver freshly picked produce directly to the chefs themselves. We found that many times with the fresh produce chefs in the area also have access to freshly/humanely butchered meats such as chicken, beef, turkey and rabbit. The chefs actually change the menu based on what the local farmers are able to offer, they say it only solidifies how dedicated they are to the area that they work and live in.
So happy fall everyone, may you find locally sourced produce!
