Spring Food

• Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
• by amy

You might not know it from the past few days, but spring is upon us.  And with spring comes the prospect of fresh fruit and vegetables!  There's nothing quite like eating some local produce; it usually tastes superior to "store" bought produce, has a better nutritional profile than it's far-flung counterparts, and I really like the idea of supporting local small businesses.  Yes, it's more expensive, but you get what you pay for!

The Blacksburg Farmers' Market will be kicking off its summer schedule next week, meaning expanded hours on Saturdays and the opportunity to shop on Wednesday afternoons too.  There are also many options for CSAs (community supported agriculture) - this is when you pay for the season's produce up front at a somewhat discounted rate, and are promised a share each week of the bounty.  While many of us were duped by an upstart CSA last summer, that's not a reason to give up completely.  We can't speak highly enough about Tenley Weaver and Dennis Dove of Good Food Good People(goodfoodgoodpeople@swva.net)!  We've been buying produce and seedlings from them for years, and they have many CSA options available this year, including separate fruit and veggie shares.  Excellent produce from these folks!  There are also other local suppliersand vendors.  Crows Nest, for example, is not simply a great place to buy flowers and landscaping; it  is an excellent source for local veggies, especially asparagus and berries.  There are a good many farms out in Giles County with pick your own berries as well.  See what's available in our area!!

Don't forget your meat! There are many local options, most with availability for fall.  While buying in bulk up front is a big cash outlay, the meat is superior to anything you've ever tasted, and it's so much better for you and the animal!  It's an opportunity to invest in your health and future.  Check out our resources page for some local farms, and this spring, we'll be buying some beef from our egg supplier Griffin Farms.  If you're interested in more information from them, let me know.