Planning out my produce

Enjoying my new organic pears from
Boston Organics.

I felt like a mother rushing home from work yesterday to pick up my Boston Organics box. But my veggies had to be taken care of before my weekly Tuesday meeting. A girl's got to have priorities...

And it was like Christmas, my produce all wrapped up in my reusable green box. This week's "dogma box" included pears, apples, an acorn squash, sprouts, carrots, chives, collard greens, gold beets, Napa cabbage, red leaf lettuce and lots of potatoes.

I dropped a pear while cleaning the goods and loading up the fridge, so I had to eat it. And I followed it with a carrot dipped in hummus. Thus far, I've thoroughly enjoyed everything. It's the stuff that needs to be cooked--the squash and the beets, especially--that I'm struggling with the most.

So I checked out Boston Organics' recipes page. There's a recipe on there for baby greens with roasted beets and potatoes, which should utilize the red leaf lettuce, potatoes and beets. Then there's another on Allrecipes.com for stuffed acorn squash halves.

For the acorn squash recipe, I'm thinking I'll nix the brown sugar; I'm not a big fan of the sweet and savory combo. And I'll use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth (I've been pretty good about being vegetarian). But here's hoping that it turns out well. Dinner, anyone?

One of the things I thought I would struggle most with is being sure to use all my produce. But I think the best bet is to plan ahead. I note what veggies I have, then I research recipes and storage tips and take note of what I need to get the next time I go grocery shopping (like bread stuffing). Produce delivery in no way absolves my need to grocery shop, but it helps me save money and forces me to be adventurous, try new foods and plan my meals.

And when all else fails, I can always pawn them off on my roommates, neighbors and friends.

Boston Organics delivers a weekly dose of karma

A Boston Organics fruit and vegetable box.

Photo source: BostonOrganics.com

No matter how much I want to eat right, sometimes finding the time to purchase food from farmers' markets (which tend to be far away) can prove inconvenient.

Before I moved to Boston, my mom and I did a little research and found this company that would deliver organic goods to customers' front doors--or back porches or secret hideaways. It was a problem when I was living in a campus dorm (If people steal my newspapers, they're bound to steal my produce), but now that I'm living in the real world, I'm taking a chance.

Tomorrow, I get my first delivery from Boston Organics. With their programs, customers have a lot of choice:

• Customers first decide which size box they want delivered (prices range from $24-$57) and how frequently.
• Then, they decide what kind of fruit:vegetable ratio they want.
• Then, customers fill out their "NO LIST," a list of various food items that they never want to receive. On weeks when they are scheduled to receive that food, it will be replaced with something else they like. It's great for allergies or pickier eaters.
• Lastly, customers fill out their delivery and payment information and their fresh, organic food is delivered.

Patrons can also add on extras to their weekly delivery; the site offers additional produce, herbs, staples, spreads, teas, coffee, dairy products and snacks. The boxes also come with a weekly newsletter, including updates on the company and the "green scene" in Boston, as well as recommended recipes and information regarding where the produce comes from.

They also have a useful website, where potential customers can see what's in "This Week's Box" and get a feel for what to expect. They can keep up-to-date with the company blog, or search recipes for inspiration on how to prep, store or cook various items. Pluots and Celeriac and Calaloo, oh my...

It's a great business, in my opinion. It's an accredited Sustainable Business Leader and, in April, was declared a 2011 Sustainable Food Leader recipient by Mayor Menino. The organization has good relationships with local farmers, and try to source they're produce from as close as possible.

It is worth noting, however, that Boston Organics provides organic food, not necessarily local food. Though they make an effort to draw their produce from farms in the Northeast, some of their food (especially fruit) comes from as far away as Peru or New Zealand. So while the consumer may be enjoying the benefits of a pesticide-free diet, their not supporting their local farmers or their ozone layer (Think of all the fuel it takes to rush produce from New Zealand to Massachusetts).

For those who wish to be as green as possible, Boston Organics offers their soon-to-be-renamed "dogma box." The dogma box (which I think should be called their "karma box") contains eight different products sourced from as close to Boston as possible.

This is the box I decided on because I could use a little good karma. However, because local resources are less varied, especially in the winter, dogma box recipients are not permitted a "NO LIST," nor can they decide the fruits:vegetables ratio. But they can take comfort in the knowledge that their carbon footprint is smaller and that they are supporting their local agricultural scene. I'll be sure to post pictures soon of the box, and discuss how I cooked everything and the quality of the produce. Stay tuned.

Boston Farmers' Markets

The Northeastern market features a diverse and colorful collection.
Photo source: NU farmers' market Facebook page.

Organic season in the Northeast typically runs June to October or November, when the farms are producing a surplus of product. And even though we're approaching the back end of that time, I thought I'd compile a list of some featured Boston farmers' markets.

Boston.com has a great site with a comprehensive list of all the local markets (in metro Boston and the surrounding areas), their dates and times. But I thought I'd address a few that I've frequented in detail:

Northeastern University
Northeastern club Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT) collaborated with the student government and other campus organizations to host a weekly market on campus. The stand is located in Centennial Commons on Wednesdays from 12-6 p.m. July through October. Options include seasonal produce from various local farms, including Heavens Harvest Farm in Braintree, and Marshall's Fenway Farm Stand in Boston.
T: Northeastern University or Ruggles Station

Copley Square
Vendors line Copley Square from 11 am. until 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays during the summer (may-November). Though many sell organic produce, others sell baked goods, dairy, flowers, herbs, and even staple groceries. Note that since the market is in a tourist-y area, prices might be jacked up a bit.
T: Copley or Back Bay

Prudential Center
The Prudential farmers' market, located on the Boylston side of the mall, runs Thursdays through October 27 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. They claim to have a wide variety of merchandise, though in my experience, the market is a little sparse. What's great is their location; what you can't find at the market, you can pick up at the Trader Joes right there on Boylston.
T: Hynes or Prudential

Can't fit a middle-of-the day market into your busy schedule? Organic Kitchen compiled a list of online markets where consumers can have goods shipped to their house.

CBS Boston investigates

In June 2011, the Boston affiliate of CBS investigated the meaning of "organic." In the short segment, they look into what the organic label actually means for produce and other goods, and how retailers might be scamming consumers.

Watch the full video on their website.

A MetrOrganics Primer

The organic trend is on the up-and-up, and for good reason. Organic foods aren't genetically modified; they lack pesticides and toxins, and are higher in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In addition to being healthy for one's body, they also benefit the environment because fewer toxins are being released into the ecosystem. Plus, they tend to come from local farms and support the local economy. They're fresher and better tasting.

But in a metropolitan center, quality organic food can be challenging to come by.

As someone with a busy schedule and an exhausted bank account, I know how difficult it is to live healthy in a big city. But I've recently developed a genuine interest in health and food, and especially the world of Boston organic food. I'm delving into the Boston "green" scene and plan to keep readers posted on all the best farmers' markets, urban gardening, local restaurants and general organic news.

To be fair, I'm admittedly a health foodie when it's convenient to me. But sometimes when I weigh time and money against healthfulness, I end up opting for what's easy. I've had plenty of Raman and Wendy's in my day. But, for the sake of my own health and for the integrity of this blog, I'm making an effort to buy organic, to eat home-cooked meals as frequently as possible. I'm an on-again-off-again vegetarian looking to be more committed, and an ex-athlete hoping to up the intensity.

But I'm making some changes, and I'll be sure to share my experiences here. Stay tuned, and follow me on twitter @mdaniells.