la cocina . . . farm to table

{photo credit: Jessi Ringer}

Q: Iʼm really into the whole farm to table movement . . . but, I donʼt live on a farm and I barely keep window herbs alive. How can I realistically incorporate this into my home meals?

If you have a black thumb like I do the best thing is to leave it up to the pros. And by pros, I mean people who know what they are doing.

Check out local farmers markets. These days they’re everywhere, so there is no excuse not to find one. They are usually held on weekends, but around my house there are a few on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Google will be your friend in this search. Local vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads, honey and herbs are the best way to start farm to table philosophy in your home. Some markets even have homemade pasta and pastries.

Doing this also supports local farmers and producers, many whom live off the earnings from these markets year round . . . so do your part!

You can also find out if there are any fruit and vegetable basket delivery services in your area. A group of farmers get together and put their products in a basket that gets delivered once a week or once every two weeks to your home. Some let you know what will be in the basket, and with others you just get what’s available and it’s a surprise. It’s a gamble in terms of what the variety is going to be: you need peaches but you don’t get any that week because they are not in season locally. But if you are the adventurous type then it’s like a surprise package every time one gets delivered.

If you can get together with neighbors and sign up for one of these services, many will give discounts for groups that they have to deliver to within the same area.

If you decide to go this route, wait for the basket delivery before you go grocery shopping and just supplement what is in the basket. Plan your meals around the basket, not before.

Another option is to go to your local specialty groceries like Whole Foods or Fresh Market. A lot of them now have sections of local produce. The catch is that it will be much more expensive since you will be paying the grocery store’s upcharge. But it still keeps it “in the local family” so to speak.

Finally, find local restaurants that practice the farm to table movement. You can get the best of both worlds, keeping it local and healthy—and getting a night off plate washing.

Like any other thing, do what you can. Don’t feel you have to serve EVERYTHING organically grown and from a farm. Even replacing the tomatoes in your salad from the farmers market one week will make a difference in your palate and in your pocket.

~Ilene Mier