At 06:51 AM 5/29/2003 -0700, Phoenix wrote:

>> Not really -- they're sacrificing taste for a product that packs with
>> minimal bruising, and doesn't mold the minute you turn your back.
>> What did I just read? The average produce travels 2,000 miles.
>> I had to toss more than a handful of blackberries in less than a day,
>> because they went all green and furry.
>
>Yup. I know why they do it... I just wish there were alternatives 
>that were as convenient as the neighborhood grocery store. 
>Farmer's markets are terrific for a lot of produce, but they can't 
>grow everything a consumer may want -- the land doesn't support 
>it. (nor would we want it to considering what they'd have to do to it) 

With conventional agriculture, I agree.  Organic, sustainable farming
doesn't do damage to the land; it nourishes it.

But there are regional variations as to what's available, so some shipping
of some produce, the specific ones depending on your area, is unavoidable.
Living in Florida is good in this regard -- there's a lot that grows here.
True, there is much that does not, too.  Like apples, for the most part.
There are actually two specific strains of apples bred to grow in this
climate (one of them is from Israel), but they're not available at markets
on a commercially-viable scale.

>> Support your local Farmers' Market, tygress
>
>yup yup... though I haven't got a clue where one is in my locale..

Best one near us is down in Gainesville; we go down there in the summer.
They're not open much in the winter.  Problem is, we have to get up at
0:God:30 in the morning to get down there to get anything because everyone
else gets there early and gets it all!

We also have an organic market across the river.  Just got back from there,
actually.  Elizabeth and I went over after our arthroswim this morning.
They have some lychees in, and Elizabeth has a standing order that they
call her when they get lychees.  They are good.  The fresh are MUCH better
than the canned.

>I'm growing my own strawberries this year
>
>Laurie so glad to be able to do that again Phoenix

Oh, I wish.  If I grow 'em, they end up feeding the possums and the
raccoons, not us.  

Veloci--love them fresh produces--raptor


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