Local Harvest

With Thanksgiving looming near, I just wanted to take a moment to share an awesome link with all of you.  This link is for a website called Local Harvest, a site dedicated to getting you in touch with your local farming community, CSA programs, and Farmer's Markets.  

I am a firm believer that the food you prepare is only as good as the ingredients you start with.  Keeping this in mind, Paul and I always make an effort to buy fresh, local produce.  Our weekly jaunt to the Farmer's market is not just another errand - it's fun.  It gives us a chance to interact with our local agricultural community, and it also gives us a chance to buy fresh, local (and delicious!) produce at very reasonable prices.  

I realize that words like "carbon footprint", "sustainable", and "locavore" are kind of hot-button terms right now, but I have to say, considering the environmental impact of the food you consume is important.    It is also really wonderful to take an opportunity to support your local farmers.  We continually complain about jobs being outsourced, and jobs in agriculture are part of that.  Supporting local farmers gives us a chance to take a stand on how we feel about outsourcing agriculture, and at the same time keeps us in touch with our local community.

Ok, soapbox aside, the quality of fruits and vegetables available to you when you buy local produce is far better than if it was picked unripe and then shipped half way around the world to land on your table.  So here's to using delicious, fresh ingredients.  I know I have some recipes coming up that showcase produce, and as such, rely tremendously on the starting quality of the ingredients.  And while I know that some of you live in places with very short growing periods, I hope that you take advantage of the resources found at Local Harvest and get to know what is available to you.  Happy baking!