'Tis the Season

The majority of winter vegetables are root veggies.
Photo Source/Picasa user duy

As the holidays fast approach and the weather cools down, there are a lot of changes in the organic community. In my hometown of San Diego, it's easy to eat whatever, whenever, because the weather is relatively consistent.

But when snow is a factor, things start changing. One of the aspects of eating locally is that one must also eat seasonally. That means a lot of root vegetables. While I'm out today, I have a winter stew of carrots, kohlrabi, potatoes, beets, radishes and celery (which, yes, I bought out of season) brewing at home in my slow cooker. If it grows underground, it's in that pot.

And it makes sense: Food that grows underground is protected from the elements. Thus, it doesn't wither and die in the cold New England weather.

With the changing produce, there are other seasonal consequences, as well. Because nearby farms are no longer yielding surplus produce, there are fewer opportunities to get one's hand on local food. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs typically end in September or October, as do many of the regular farmers markets.

So what now?

I reached out to my twitter following and asked how they got their hands on winter produce. The following are a couple of tips:

• Eat seasonally. I know I mentioned it before, but it is important to develop a taste for those starchy root vegetables. I'm not advocating that one survive on potatoes alone, but eating seasonally will save money, as well.
• Investigate winter CSAs. Though they're not all traditional programs, various Massachusetts farms do have programs in the winter: Busa Farm in Lexington, which allows members to pick produce and show their farm stand; Red Fire Farm in Granby, who delivers their CSAs to pick-up locations throughout the city; and Enterprise Farm, which has the longest going winter CSA (November-May) and will deliver to the Boston area.
• Shop in the snow. There are some markets that extend beyond the typical October end date. Search "winter" on the Massachusetts Farmers Markets database of markets. Heather and Carrie, of Local City Chicks, recommend the Somerville Winter Market.
• Buy non-perishables. Though I much prefer fresh fruits and veggies, you can still get organically-grown goods in cans. Also look for organic canned soups and stews.... the warm stuff always feels better during the cold.
• Get festive. During their off-season, many of the farms focus more on seasonal festivities and community outreach than produce. Meander your way through a corn stalk maze, take a hay ride with a cup of organic cider, pick apples, outfit yourself with all the necessities for Thanksgiving (which uses mostly seasonal food: yams, potatoes, cranberries, pumpin).

Many thanks to @LocalCityChicks, @MAFarmMarkets and Stonewall Farm for their tips and ideas. As more come in, I'll be sure to add them.

A full-of-food weekend

Enjoying the beautiful weather and heirloom tomatoes at
Friday's farmers market at Copley Square.

I confess I didn't have time to make my recipes this weekend. I was too busy galavanting around town. I legitimately went to three organic-themed markets in the last three days.

Friday, I was out and about running errands and stopped by the Copley Square farmers' market to pick up some tomatoes and salad greens. The selection of heirloom tomatoes was absolutely stunning (so I took a photo on my friend's phone), as were the peaches. I can never get enough of the color at farmers' markets. I did run into some problems, though. When I went to purchase my produce, the woman asked condescendingly if I needed a bag (I did). Note to self: always carry around recyclable bags.

Yesterday, I stumbled through the financial district on the lookout for the 2nd Annual Boston Local Food Festival. After mistaking an anti-corporation rally for the festival, I finally managed to find it. There was a wide selection of booths: local dairy farms (where I asked lots of questions about the treatment of animals), chocolate manufacturers, fair-trade coffee, community programs, and food--lots and lots of food. More than anything, the Boston Local Food Festival gave me the opportunity to network a little and meet people in the Boston "green scene." I introduced myself as a journalist writing about organic food in Boston, and people were more than happy to share their experiences with me. I talked with the farmers who actually grow my food and raise the cattle whose milk I use. And though I learned a lot and collected business cards, I didn't get any formal interviews. Note to self: always carry a pen.

And then today, I was running around Cambridge and saw their Oktoberfest celebrations (which included a farmers' market). It was uncomfortably packed, but I was excited that so many people were together celebrating beer and food and music. In all, an incredible weekend. Nothing cheers me up like good food.

Check out some pictures from the weekend after the break.

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.