Martin
As National Nutrition Month begins, I daydream about spring’s first delicious nutritional treasures – spiced radishes – and then my thoughts turn to gratitude for our local farmers.
While the month of March is still snowy and cold, farmers are already hard at work, most often outside for long hours, preparing to cultivate the treasures of tomorrow: local products.
Not wanting to lose the hard work of farmers, I tend to fill my freezer in the fall to extend the bounty season.
Now, on a cold day, I wear comfortable clothes and clean out the freezer in the spring when I find gold!
Pink and cheerful strawberries, frozen and forgotten from last year’s strawberry season. Weather loves the freezer, and so do I, especially right now as it leaks frozen Michigan berries just in time to soothe my winter slump — one strawberry smoothie, muffin, or sauce at a time.
Thank you farmers (and my freezer).
Keeping tabs on what’s in the freezer and other food inventory reduces food waste, uses the things my family loves, and takes the guesswork out of what to eat for dinner.
I found a soup that I froze in November – looks like dinner is planned: a soup with added beans and pasta.
I like to take food out of the freezer for up to four months for leftovers and up to eight months for frozen fresh produce, grains, and some meats.
Discovering all the ingredients on hand to make a quick Michigan Berry Crisp on a Sunday in late February sounds like a tremendous win! And what tastier way to celebrate National Nutrition Month? Thank you, Farmers (and Freezer).
Frozen local produce is a nutrition superstar because freezing helps retain nutrients.
Frozen berries, for example, are a great way to reminisce about the joys of summer and get the kind of food so beneficial during cold and flu season.
Another tradition our family has during National Nutrition Month is to decide whether or not we will join a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription with a local farm for the upcoming season.
I appreciate how a CSA action offers a variety of fresh produce and other fun items like honey, eggs, meat, and bread chosen according to the growing season. I also enjoy getting to know the producers in my community.
I’m also pleased with the Farmer’s Market online ordering system and looking forward to a trip to a Farmer’s Market. It is flexible and has worked very well for my family.
Choosing both a CSA and on-farm market purchases might be the best and most nutritious way to go for us this year.
Choosing to eat more locally benefits the environment, our personal health, and the health of the community (both physical and financial).
During National Nutrition Month, consider taking the time to take an inventory of the house, get to know what you have on hand, make room for the upcoming local bounty (more deliciously nutritious berries!) and think of all the ways to thank farmers (and freezers).
