From lo on Tue, June 15, 2010

For us one of the big keys to eating more locally is storing things up during the winter months.  After all, local June strawberries taste pretty awesome when you thaw a package of them in February…  That said, I’m with Amy on seasonal foods. Things like asparagus might be available year-round, but they’re just not the same as local. We eat what’s local and in season until we can’t stand it anymore… that way we don’t miss it so much once it’s gone.

From Amy Cotler on Thu, June 17, 2010

If you’re interested in seasonal local farm-fresh recipes all year round with an occasional touch of local food information,check out my blog too. I welcome feedback!

From Amy Cotler on Thu, June 17, 2010

My farm fresh local food blog is http://www.amycotler.com/blog/

From Emily on Mon, June 28, 2010

A couple of years ago, I was in the supermarket produce aisle in about mid-February when I chanced to hear a customer screech at the poor produce boy, “WHY are these strawberries so expensive?!?”

How on earth have we become so divorced from our food systems?  People look at me like I’m from Mars when I say I’m excited for asparagus season.

From Amy Cotler on Mon, June 28, 2010

I understand how you feel, but you can educate people. It takes time (decades). Don’t lose the faith though. Many good people who are great citizens of the world don’t understand how much their food dollars shape out world.

Start small. Invite friends to share a pot luck local food super. Volunteer at organizations like Slow Food, Just Food or some please near you. Check out recipes on my blog (http://www.amycotler.com) using local foods and cook them (or your own) with friends. Read my book, which has lots of ideas about bringing local food concepts into your community. Lobby your senators about the farm bill. There’s so much you can do.

I get frustrated too, but in the almost 30 years I’ve been working on this we’ve come so far….

I agree about eating your way through each ingredient. I just ate so many strawberries the last few weeks I can’t look at another one. Now I can wait until next year!

From Emily on Mon, June 28, 2010

You give me hope, Amy!  I actually already do most of this stuff.  In fact, all summer long, anyone who eats at my house gets a meal that’s either all from my CSA or, in a good year, all from my garden.  But I also think my friends and family are a little unique: educated, mostly Asian or white, middle class.  The folks who go to farmers’ markets and buy Michael Pollan’s books, in other words.  Still, I suppose it’s a starting point, and I see enough movement that I really am starting to think this thing has legs.

I’m a little jealous.  My CSA had a once-in-a-generation hail storm this year that took out their entire June strawberry crop.

Love your website, by the way!

From Amy Cotler on Mon, June 28, 2010

Emily,

Sounds like a good start. I know what you mean. Sometimes the movement seems a tad elitist, or at least that we speak to the already converted, but you have to start somewhere. And sounds like you are off to a great beginning with your CSA share, family meals and more. And there are ways out from our little circle of the like-minded: One of the reasons I got involved Farm to School work is it’s food democracy at its core and teaches the next generation to eat fresh food from their local farms!

My local farm had strawberry freeze too, but there were others farmer that came through alright. You might check around…..

From Emily on Mon, June 28, 2010

Small steps, small steps!

From Amy Cotler on Mon, June 28, 2010

You bet!