Groovy. Local. Food.

By Vicki Needham -- Apples for sale at the Falls Church farmers market.

Yes, I’m reading “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” by Michael Pollan (for those of  you way ahead of me on that count) a book that explores the who, what, where, when, why and how of our food chain from the industrial complex to the simply complex, where one farmer moves his animals and crops so they work together in agricultural harmony.

This little gem of a phrase “Eat Your View” defines exactly what I’m trying to do — eat as much local, (within a few hundred miles), seasonal food as possible. The concept may sound easy but I’ve found it’s much harder than grabbing your reusable shopping bags and heading to the local grocery store.

As a whole, there’s a lot to consider. I’ve really tried to simplify my food choices over time, sticking mainly to fresh produce and healthy grains while eliminating most of the *bad* foods (in my opinion) — fast food, soda and processed foods loaded with fat and sodium. Nixing the bad stuff wasn’t too hard. It’s what’s left that provides the challenge.

It’s one thing to pick a delicious, vine-ripened tomato in August from my deck garden — I know exactly what effort it has taken to plant it, grow it, pick it and, of course, EAT it. Yum. Same deal if a friend passes on their surplus backyard-garden produce or my grower friends Matt and Mary plant and harvest a tomato, zucchini or eggplant. It’s about 75 miles from their farm to, pretty much, my plate. Easy enough.

But it gets more complicated when I see a tomato or peach in February, fruits very much out of season in the Washington, D.C. area in the winter. At the store, peaches and nectarines arrive from Chile — 8,000 miles from Washington — by plane, train, truck and probably ship — tempting shoppers seeking a taste of summer on a snowy afternoon. The problem is those tomatoes and peaches are flavorless and can’t compare to the softball-sized, juicy, ripe fruits of summer. Thanks but no thanks, I’ll wait for the good stuff.

A little research to “source” your food goes a long way. It may take some time but once you know where to get the best peaches, apples, corn and even steaks you’ll realize it’s all worth it on several levels from knowing what system a grower uses to kills pests to who’s picking that apple.

According to Pollan’s book, “a successful local food economy implies not only a new kind of food producer, but a new kind of eater as well, one who regards finding, preparing, and preserving food as one of the pleasures of life rather than a chore.” Therein lies the challenge.

Despite a long, snowy winter I’m trying to visit as many farmers markets as possible seeking out local apples, squash, sweet potatoes and mushrooms along with homemade pastas, sausages and yogurt.

I’d love to hear about your experiences in choosing food in your area and especially your challenges in the winter.

It’s not only food for thought but requires plenty of thinking about food.

Thanks for reading, there will be plenty more to come. In the meantime, be happy and healthy.