Photo by Annaelle Quion
Buying local farm-fresh produce in winter is not necessarily the first thing that comes to mind when meal planning in Vermont. Many of our farms close for the winter season. But eating locally 365 days of the year is an important way to help build a resilient community and food system.
When we buy produce from a large-scale food supplier, a much smaller percentage of the profit goes to support the farmer who grew the produce. The average CEO in the corporate food system makes more money in one hour than a farm worker will make in a year. I imagine that many of us would prefer not to put our money into such a problematic business and would much rather support our neighbors working hard to grow food for their community.
The produce that has been shipped to our grocery stores loses a large percentage of nutrients, and this is especially true during the winter when the majority of the vegetables in a grocery store will have been shipped to us from California. Salad greens and anything leafy will lose the most nutrients.
Many of us are aware that eating locally has a wide range of benefits, but it can be difficult in our climate to find year-round options for local produce. There are a few different ways to make sure that you are supporting local agriculture through this winter. Grocery stores and co-ops will often label their produce to show what has been grown in the area. Better yet, signing up for a winter CSA gives the farmer a reliable source of income through a difficult season.
Some local farms that are still selling produce this time of the year include Sweetland Farm in Norwich, Ferndean Farm in Woodstock, and Cedar Mountain Farm in Hartland. There are a number of farmer’s markets that continue through the winter season, including the Norwich Farmer’s Market.
If you are having difficulty finding certain greens or herbs locally and would like to supplement what you buy from local farms, growing sprouts or microgreens on your counter through the winter can be a great way to add variety to your table. There are many different plants that can be grown as sprouts besides the classic alfalfa and mung bean. Basil and cilantro can be grown as microgreens and added as a garnish to winter soups and salads. Broccoli, cabbage, and radish are easy to sprout. Most sprouts/microgreens contain more nutrients than their mature plants.
It may take a bit more effort to find local produce during the winter, but it is worth the effort to support our farmers and to get the health benefits local produce offers.
What you can do:
- Visit a winter farmers market such as the Norwich Farmers Market. NOFA has a great tool on their website for finding farmer’s markets that sell during a specific season: https://www.nofavt.org/find-organic-local-food/vermont-farmers-markets
- Sign up for a winter CSA
- Join us for a virtual screening of the film ‘Food Inc 2’ beginning on Dec 17th to learn more about the issues with our corporate food system. Register at https://www.sustainablewoodstock.org/event/food-inc-2-film-screening/
