Locally grown food trend.

Saw this in the NY Times today

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/dining/22local.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&th&emc=th

And in the interest of self promotion:

http://www.oldhamera.com/cgi-bin/storyviewnew.cgi?041+Features.2008716-297-041-041007.Lead+Features+Features

How important is locally grown food to the forum?

I listened to Bob Hill and Jeanine Wishe's interview this weekend with Russ Parson (LA Times food and ag writer, and author of "How to Pick a Peach") and I am more convinced than ever that buying locally grown produce is paramount for taste. (And out in my Shelby county space this year's crops are lettuce, garlic, zuchs, squash, three types tomatoes, green peppers, several chiles and habaneros, beans, and heaven knows what for the cold weather plantings!). I look forward to a year-round farmers' market, which now seems likely, although I'm skeptical about what we'll find there in January that we can't buy in a grocery.

[Robin Garr]

How important is locally grown food to the forum?

Very important indeed to me. We buy locally as much as we can, particularly during summer months. I've written a lot about it for LEO.

(And, by the way, starting next week, LEO will have a once-a-month "locavore" column replacing the traditional restaurant review for that week. That's a commitment!)

I've always been a huge fan of buying and supporting locally. The only thing i would wish to see is some evidence/report that its safer to use locally from national chains. Maybe it is and i just don't know it

Doesn't Meijer's buy a lot of locally grown produce?

I've always been a huge fan of buying and supporting locally. The only thing i would wish to see is some evidence/report that its safer to use locally from national chains. Maybe it is and i just don't know it

I would like to know as well. I have always assumed it is just for the fact that so many less "hands" come in contact with it. One thing I would say is that the nutrient value has to be higher as it it is on your table much sooner than shipped items would be.
Local food available today at Phoenix Hill Farmers Market ,at the Bodega on Market and Campbell 3 to 6 pm.

Doesn't Meijer's buy a lot of locally grown produce?

I've seen both Meijer's and Kroger touting the fact that a lot of their produce at this time of year is locally grown. Personally, I buy from the farmer who runs a little market next to where I live. The peaches and tomatoes this year are the best ever. The corn is so sweet it needs nothing added to it. For anyone living around the KY22 area, this guy's market is just down from the Dive shop on 1694 on the right hand side of the road. If you go over I-71, you've gone too far. There is also a little farmer's market at the junction of 22 and 1694. I haven't been there but they sell more than just produce. Things such as hanging plant and flower baskets, herbs, perennials and the sort.

Buying locally grown food has become very important to me. To be able to talk personally with the person who has grown the food that you are serving to your family is great. We have also planted a vegetable garden this year for our own produce and have just planted a fall garden for the upcoming cooler weather. My children are learning more about where our food actually comes from and how it gets to our table rathen than just think it comes neatly stacked in piles at the grocery store. We are watching our pennies very closely and trying to supplement our meals with more fresh produce and convert to more vegetable based meals in the face of rising meat costs and safety issues. Buying whats "in season" at the farmer's markets has helped our grocery bill quite a bit.

Kimberly

Our CSA farmer told me that the markets have been slowing down this summer. People seem to be apprehensive about spending money due to the economy and gas prices. She's concerned about markets closing after all the farmers have done so much work getting them going.

I thought this group might find the info useful.

July 28th special editorial by Sarah Fritschner: At meal time, put Kentucky first
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 55/OPINION

LEO Weekly: July 23, 2008 edition
Fresh food frenzy: Local food systems become a city priority
http://leoweekly.com/?q=node/7375

I'm happy to say that I've been up to Huber farm twice this year when we picked several pounds of blackberries and blueberries. My mom and I brought all that fruit home and made jam! It's great to sit down to breakfast and eat locally grown berries in jam made in your own kitchen! I'm all about locally grown when it's available.

I also noticed that there was a very large farmer's market in the Highlands on Saturday.

And yet with this abundance of fresh locally grown produce, we must still suffer with pink, mealy and hard tomatoes at most local restaurants.

And yet with this abundance of fresh locally grown produce, we must still suffer with pink, mealy and hard tomatoes at most local restaurants.

This is why I mostly dine at home.

And yet with this abundance of fresh locally grown produce, we must still suffer with pink, mealy and hard tomatoes at most local restaurants.

Most still get SYSCO tomatoes. I have no idea why at this time of the year.

Try Porcinis. Chef John Plymale grows the tomatoes in his own garden. Many are heirloom. We had a couple of tomato salads last year. Very simple and very good.

I am sure others get good ones, but a lot are not willing to go to the trouble of going to farmers markets. Probably some of these are the same ones that proclaim they have the "freshest ingredients," which has become a buzzword in the restaurant business.

I've got tons of tomatoes coming out of the garden now. We are using them on the salads, in the pomadora sauce. We also use them for a caprese app. I'm selling them too. come out and eat and take some home. 7 varieties of heirloom and two varieties of hybrids.