To kick off local food week, I started out at Gordon Square Farmer’s Market. Okay, let’s face it, I needed some fresh produce and I try to buy local whenever I can, so I usually go to the Tremont Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Gordon Square on Saturday. The thing about buying at farmers market, is that local produce is just plain better. I sometimes get to chat with the actual farmers or growers of the veggies that I am buying. It is usually nice and ripe, and ready for eating. The produce is ripened on the vine (or tree or whatever) so the end result is a fruit or veggie that gets the most important part of its growing cycle with water and nutrients from the place it is supposed to get them. In case you didn’t know this, tomatoes from far away are usually picked very green, and then blasted with gasses to make them turn red when you put them on the shelf at the local market. This means those tomatoes may look ripe, but are usually still far from ready. I have even seen more producers doing the same thing with tomatoes still on the vine. I used to buy these in the winter months as they were most likely to be riper when shipped, but now I am seeing more producers using this technique to fool shoppers who think that the produce is better still on the vine.
To celebrate local foods, Columbus has a slate of events going on around town all week long. I have yet to see much out of the norm for Cleveland, but there must be some to share. I got some great information from the Local Matters website. Among the statistics that I found important:
Over 99% of food grown in Ohio is shipped out of state. Interesting thing to consider when most of the vendors at the west Side market are selling produce from out of state.
One in three Ohio children is expected to contract diabetes.
In Franklin County, the obesity rate among preschoolers is 20% and 45% for 3rd graders. I am sure that is can’t be much better in Cleveland.
The communities of Franklinton, Hilltop, Linden and the Southside lack access to fresh, healthy food on a daily basis. Obesity and diabetes rates in these communities are some of the highest in the city of Columbus. This only shows the problem of food deserts on communities. The poorer the neighborhood, the poorer the diet. The sector of the population that most needs good food and health care are getting the least of both.
Just a few facts that should get everyone thinking about the importance of local foods. Check out Local Food Cleveland to join in the discussion with other local residents.
We also went to our annual Patterson’s Farm event. This is the big event every year, where I get hang out with our friends’ kids, watching them slide, paint pumpkins, and ride the pony. We also get to have some of the best freshly picked apples in the state. When these great orchards are available so readily, why are we bringing most of ours into Ohio from places like Washington State and New Zealand? We also picked up our annual local pumpkin. Check them out for a fall trip with your kids, and get some great local apples and produce.
Tags: buy local, farmers markets, local food
