I scored a work-exchange job at the Hillcrest Farmers’ Market last fall, and I was hauling home bags of Escondido-grown heirloom tomatoes every Sunday until December. Meanwhile, I was eating strawberries from the same farm, passion fruit from Vista, avocados from San Marcos, and rose apples, pomegranates, and pineapple guavas from my backyard. To top it all off, I greeted 2011 with a New Year’s watermelon from Temecula.
It was hysterical, really. Did nature forget? How was it that I could eat so well without straying 60 miles from my house? And in December!
My point is that if you have even the most nonchalant interest in incorporating more local food into your diet, San Diego is just about the easiest damn place to do it. With over 6,000 farms in the county and farmers’ markets every single day of the week, there’s really no reason to buy your apples from Chile. We have one of the longest growing seasons in the world, and most markets are open year-round. Plus, with sun in January, why wouldn’t you want to get on your bike and go meet the people who grow your food? There are lots of flowers and excellent people-watching opportunities, too.
The goal of this blog is to get you — the frugal, yet adventurous, eater — to join me in embracing the local bounty that San Diego has to offer. I will do my best to keep you up-to-date on the fruits and vegetables available each week, and also share some recipes that will help you make the most of these seasonal delights.
I hope you will follow me from soil to market to kitchen. And remember, a little dirt won’t kill you. ¡Buen provecho!
Hey, where’s your About Me section? Found you on Blog Pulse. My client is Brian’s Markets Farmers market. Your voice is distinct enough, but you should have an “About” page. Good luck!
Suz