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Locavore (n.): someone who eats food that was raised under the same sun that warms their back. The season of eating locally is closing in, and it’s a good thing too because eating locally is the new black. If you haven’t noticed, the “Eat Local Movement” is sweeping the nation. Numerous books have been published on eating seasonally, or the 100-mile diet. People are eating locally to offset their carbon footprint. Even the Oxford American Dictionary named ‘locavore’ the 2007 Word of the Year. But there has to be a catch in joining a trend, right?
The only risk of jumping on this bandwagon is the chance that you might score some nutritious, fresh, and flavorful produce that supports the local economy, reduces fuel consumption, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention, you might even get to know the people who grow your food and a few things about how your food is grown. This is countryside renewal and community building at its best. So, all of you locavores out there will be pleased to know that the Tuesday Growers’ Market will be reopening for the season in early May (the specific date depends on how the weather cooperates). Local farmers are in full swing to raise the best produce available on the Palouse. Your tasty lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, and onions were started in greenhouses back in January and February and are currently being transplanted to hoophouses and under row covers. For those of you who haven’t been to the Tuesday Growers’ Market, it is a non-value added growers’ market that lasts from 4:30 – 6:30 on Tuesday evenings in the Moscow Food Co-op’s parking lot. When the weather warms up, the Tuesday Music Series and a barbeque set up next to the growers to create a very homegrown, tasty experience for the market go-er. And with the new parking lot getting underway, expect some new tables and chairs in which to enjoy the evening. It’s hard to believe, but this year marks the 7th anniversary of the Tuesday Growers’ Market. The Growers’ Market started as an idea inspired by a midweek market/ parking lot party at a co-op in Lawrence, Kansas (those Midwesterners sure are cutting edge aren’t they?). Not only was the Co-op interested in the idea, but a few local growers had also realized they needed a second harvest in the middle of the week in between harvests for the Saturday Farmers’ Market. During the first few years, the Co-op and a small number of growers had to hold onto some resolute hope and patience as the Tuesday Market set sail; at times the market was so small that only one farm was present. However, once the Co-op moved to its present location over two years ago, the Tuesday Growers’ Market finally began to be a destination where people could go to celebrate local fruits and vegetables, listen to music, and enjoy some barbeque. Over the last couple of years, the Growers’ Market has seen surge in the number of growers attending the event, and its customers have the opportunity to ride the wave of diverse offerings in high quality produce, meat, and flowers. In fact, during the height of the growing season, the space allocated for the growers is often at capacity, and due to the logistics of the parking lot, the Co-op simply can’t provide more space to the Grower’s Market. What this means is, the local growers have met the challenge and fulfilled their pledge to offer fresh, local food every Tuesday evening. But the Growers’ Market could take on some more locavores. So get your taste buds ready and your recipes on cue, because you can expect more offerings at the Tuesday Growers’ Market this year than previous years. The take home message is, well-traveled food is out, and local produce is in. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for the salad days. Carrie and Nate are former corn-fed farm kids who like to write about and eat local, sustainable products grown by neighbors. They are relocating to Wisconsin this summer, so they will be handing this column off to their new friend, Jeanne Leffingwell. |
