Talk of The Villages Florida

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-   -   How about a "farm to table" local movement? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/village-kitchen-121/how-about-farm-table-local-movement-153284/)

tomwed 05-03-2015 03:16 PM

How about a "farm to table" local movement?
 
The old way of eating is that you eat what's in season.

While I was working I did not have the time to make that work all the time.

I would like to know where to buy what is grown locally when it is in season. I suppose I can look it up online again and see what the .gov sites say but I would rather hear from locals that know exactly where I can get the best tasting veggies locally grown.

Fish, meat and dairy can be a future conversation or thread or feel free to share what you know if you have a good source for those local specialties.

Villager Joyce 05-03-2015 03:26 PM

I am interested as well. I think Publix has a farm fresh section. I'm on my way now so I'll let you know when I get back.

Madelaine Amee 05-03-2015 04:02 PM

One of my neighbors goes out to a small one man farm past Webster, he went this morning and we had fresh just dug red potatoes and just pulled baked onions with Roast pork tonight and it was delicious - along with some home grown curly kale. You could not buy a meal this good it at any local restaurant.

There are several area farms that do what you are looking for, I will see if I have them bookmarked.

sunnyatlast 05-03-2015 04:20 PM

"Back in the day", not only did we eat what was in season, but we CANNED it in mason jars for winter just around the corner!

And then we got the big deep freezer to freeze sweet corn, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. Mmmmmm!

Villager Joyce 05-03-2015 04:53 PM

Just returned from Publix at traverse. They have a Fresh Florida section which mainly consisted of yellow squash and zucchini, some tomatoes. There were some peppers but I could only find US on the packaging, not Florida. The squash and zucchini were on sale. My husband keeps saying we need to go to the farmers market in Webster but we haven't made it yet.

DougB 05-03-2015 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwed (Post 1055255)
The old way of eating is that you eat what's in season.

While I was working I did not have the time to make that work all the time.

I would like to know where to buy what is grown locally when it is in season. I suppose I can look it up online again and see what the .gov sites say but I would rather hear from locals that know exactly where I can get the best tasting veggies locally grown.

Fish, meat and dairy can be a future conversation or thread or feel free to share what you know if you have a good source for those local specialties.

Isn't that what the farmer's markets at Brownsville and Spanish Springs is for?

Villager Joyce 05-03-2015 05:56 PM

I have bought eggplants, sweet potatoes and squash at brownwood. Not sure they really are locally grown, but tasted great. Squash, tomatoes and sweet peppers is one if our favorite meals.

mountaineergirl 05-03-2015 08:17 PM

There is a local organization that sells organic and Florida grown produce, meats, etc. You order by noon on Monday for delivery later in the week. You can pick up at numerous locations in or near the villages. Check out empowerobc.com. Great group of people with a great product.. Check them out.

tomwed 05-03-2015 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee (Post 1055274)
One of my neighbors goes out to a small one man farm past Webster, he went this morning and we had fresh just dug red potatoes and just pulled baked onions with Roast pork tonight and it was delicious - along with some home grown curly kale. You could not buy a meal this good it at any local restaurant.

There are several area farms that do what you are looking for, I will see if I have them bookmarked.

That does sound delicious. I'm finding that the simpler I cook the happier I am with the results.
Does a potato that comes right out of the ground and go into the pot taste notably different? the onions? the kale?

tomwed 05-03-2015 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountaineergirl (Post 1055397)
There is a local organization that sells organic and Florida grown produce, meats, etc. You order by noon on Monday for delivery later in the week. You can pick up at numerous locations in or near the villages. Check out empowerobc.com. Great group of people with a great product.. Check them out.

I went to the link but couldn't see how I could sign up. Do you pick up the food in Lady Lake? Have you visited:

the Outdoor Market for walk-in customers Tuesday 9am to 5:30pm and Wednesday 9am to 12:00pm. House of Treasures 37826 SR 19 Umatilla, FL

It looks like it's 30 miles from where I live near Brownwood.

tomwed 05-03-2015 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougB (Post 1055298)
Isn't that what the farmer's markets at Brownsville and Spanish Springs is for?

Are there vendors that are selling food they grow? Do you know which ones?

Madelaine Amee 05-03-2015 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwed (Post 1055418)
Are there vendors that are selling food they grow? Do you know which ones?

I cannot find my list of organic farms in the area, but there are quite a lot. I have shopped both SS and Brownwood markets and there are definitely growers there. There are two women who have eggs and produce that they do grow. There is also an African American family who grow what they sell, in fact we like pole beans and I can only get them there, and there are other home growers.

Have you tried the home made breads - husband is French and his wife is American - they make the best bread I have ever tasted and you cannot miss them because they have a "Q" a mile long.

tomwed 05-03-2015 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Villager Joyce (Post 1055335)
I have bought eggplants, sweet potatoes and squash at brownwood. Not sure they really are locally grown, but tasted great. Squash, tomatoes and sweet peppers one if our favorite meals.

I was looking for something to bring to dinner on wednesday and that fits the bill. Do you bake them or stir fry on olive oil?

Madelaine Amee 05-03-2015 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomwed (Post 1055413)
That does sound delicious. I'm finding that the simpler I cook the happier I am with the results.
Does a potato that comes right out of the ground and go into the pot taste notably different? the onions? the kale?

We think there is a difference in home grown produce, but it may be all in my head. The red potatoes we had this evening were just totally different from anything you buy in the store. They did not look too great from the outside, they were sort of rough and lumpy, but I boiled them in their skins and they were very white and kind of firm or waxy when cooked, but had a really good flavor. The onions were sweet and very strong - just having them on the counter made my eyes water.

Publix also has some excellent grass fed ground beef and ground lamb. Not cheap by any means, but great flavor. But, we also like Fresh Market ground beef which is on sale on a Tuesday for $2.99 lb, and their really good ground sirloin makes excellent burgers. We like Fresh Market meats and fish.

tomwed 05-03-2015 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee (Post 1055424)
We think there is a difference in home grown produce, but it may be all in my head. The red potatoes we had this evening were just totally different from anything you buy in the store. They did not look too great from the outside, they were sort of rough and lumpy, but I boiled them in their skins and they were very white and kind of firm or waxy when cooked, but had a really good flavor. The onions were sweet and very strong - just having them on the counter made my eyes water.

Publix also has some excellent grass fed ground beef and ground lamb. Not cheap by any means, but great flavor. But, we also like Fresh Market ground beef which is on sale on a Tuesday for $2.99 lb, and their really good ground sirloin makes excellent burgers. We like Fresh Market meats and fish.

I bought a bag of grapefruit from Jennings farm stand on 301 and they were browner than I would have liked on the outside but the inside was delicious. Do you if that's the way it is with local grapefruit, brownish and not perfectly yellow.


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