[drgenie]

As I write this I am happily snacking on a bag of cherries. In January. In PA. Our supermarket also had some kickass blackberries for a very reasonable price this week. I'm on my third container of them this week.<br><br>
I used to hate winter because I got so bored with apples, oranges, pears and grapefruit. Maybe the stores are finally wising up!!!!!! Usually the "summer" produce is frightfully expensive and crappy in the winter. But I'm a happy camper tonight! <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">

 

[witchypoo]

my local market had cantaloupe, honeydew and pineapple (whole fruits) on sale this week. i grabbed one of each.

 

[merigayle]

i try to eat only locally in season fruit, but i did buy a honey dew last week that was scrumptious <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[wyrillco]

I miss grapes. They are $4 a frickin pound here. WTH?

 

[diablita]

Same here. I don't want to be a spoilsport, but I try to buy produce that's at least from this continent. I feel funny about making fun of Hummers, then having my cherries flown in from Chile.

 

[cidersock]

wyrillco - I paid the same for grapes last week. 2lbs of grapes was the single most expensive thing in my cart.<br>
They were pretty scrumptious, though.

 

[wyrillco]

I routinely pay $3 a pound for good apples, so I don't know why I'm bothered by it. But sheesh.

 

[drgenie]

Meh. I almost always buy locally in the summer, when things are plentiful and variety is also. However, if I'm going to stick to a healthier way of living, variety is the most important factor--I cannot stand eating the same thing all the time, and winter supply, unless I'm missing locally grown sources somewhere, is pretty narrow and limited. Besides, unless I'm gravely mistaken, farmers are farmers and they all have families to feed, so I don't feel that bad about going elsewhere in the winter when during more plentiful seasons I do support my local growers.

 

[winejunky]

I agree completely, the carbon footprint vs our own self interest. As a west coaster I feel fortunate that I can purchase fruits and veggies grown on the same coast. Am I missing melons and grapes grown in the southern hemisphere? I think I can get by until they become available in season.

 

[diablita]

Unfortunately these days we buy more and more of our produce from large-scale businesses and fewer from the dwindling small-time growers.<br><br>
But as far as the seasonal fruit goes, it's not the idea of buying from distant farmers that bothers me, it's the extra packaging it takes to travel the distance + fuel to get it here. I'm by no means perfectly green, but this has been a new focus for me.

 

[witchypoo]

that's a great sentiment; are you buying locally produced books, clothing, and housewares?

 

[diablita]

Housewares, to the extent that I can (pottery very popular in the Carolinas). Books, trying to go the library route. But like I said, I'm nowhere near perfectly green. So I pick the battles I can try to win.

 

[spidergirl]

I eat locally year round (in Boston) since I got a chest freezer for my basement. It's low energy and now I can stock up on fruits and veggies from the farmer's market to use all winter. For fruits I've frozen strawberries, rasberries, blueberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines. Easy to thaw and use in cereal or yogurt, or use straight from the freezer for baking.

 

[VP of Tea]

Ha, me too. After reading 'Omnivore's Dilemma', 'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' and 'Plenty', I'm all inspired to opt for local options when I can. I agree with Dr Genie that that is a lot harder in the winter, but I now refuse to buy berries or cherries or peaches (peaches!) in winter. Aside from berries though, I am far, far from perfect in my green endeavours as well. But here's to trying!