Maybe it's because it's summertime and I want to be outside every chance I get, but lately, I can't stand going to the supermarket. I've gotten my weekly supermarket visits down to a science, where I'm in and out of the store in 20 minutes, tops. I'm practically fleeing from the place. But there's another reason that I'm giving it the slip: I've discovered how infinitely better it is (for our tastebuds, our health, and the planet, of course) to buy all of our produce from local farms instead.
From a green standpoint, "eating locally" is a huge issue. Michael Pollan has explored the topic in his enlightening best-seller, The Omnivore's Dilemma. It's well worth a read if you haven't already picked it up, but one of the main points is this: Think about the time it takes for a piece of fruit to be picked, get loaded onto a truck, potentially travel through several states, and finally wind up in your supermarket, only to sit on the shelf for who-knows-how-long before it's purchased and eaten. How many gallons of gas did it take to get there? How much CO(2) was expelled from the tailpipe? Or did it have to fly around the world, expending jet fuel, to get to your store? (New Zealand apples, I'm looking at you.) How much plastic or styrofoam was manufactured for the packaging?
One of Pollan's other main points in the book is the astounding difference in taste between fresh-picked and store-bought. And that brings us to the astonishingly delicious scent of ripe summer fruit at Sun High Orchards of Randolph, NJ. When I was there this week, snapping these photos, the current owner-operator, Phil Green, told me that his father-in-law's father started the farm in 1945, and they've kept it in the family ever since. Hats off to them!
Instead of a supermarket with its generic atmosphere, white-bright-fluorescents, and too-chilly temperature, a trip to the farm is (quite literally) a breath of fresh air.
Instead of rows upon rows of neon cardboard boxes, plastic containers, and styrofoam trays, the shelves at Sun High look like this:
I felt like I had walked right into the movie, Paper Moon.
Instead of ho-hum fruit packaged in little clear plastic coffins (because as Pollan writes, it's long into the decaying process once it's in the supermarket), everywhere you look, you see glorious still-lifes of gorgeous produce. Just look at these little juicy guys below, all angling for their close-up...
There's something about produce that's not covered in plastic which makes it seem outrageously delicious (and it is). Most of the produce at Sun High is loose, so you can bring your own reusable bag and pack it all in, once it's weighed. Smaller fruits, such as blueberries and strawberries, come in cardboard cartons, and as the new recycling ad for NYC says, "If you can rip it, you can recycle it." Our town has finally started to accept almost all coded plastics for recycling (hallelujah!), but it takes more energy and creates more pollution to melt down plastic and make it into something else, so I'm sticking with the cartons if there's a choice. Plus, if they do wind up astray, they're biodegradable, unlike plastic (see my July entry entitled Road-Testing Reusable Lunch Containers.)
When I was done selecting my fruit, I headed outside to visit these two characters...
Alpaca: "You go, girlfriend!"
Donkey: "Mmmm...dry hay."
Then I headed homeward, happily, to feast!
Almost too pretty to eat. (I said almost.)
I can't give up the supermarket entirely, because Sun High doesn't carry things like milk, eggs, and cereal. But sorry, supermarket: You've lost my business in the produce department. It wasn't even close.
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Sun High Orchards is located at 19 Canfield Avenue in Randolph, NJ. Open 7 days a week in summer from 9 am to 5 pm. Phone: 973-584-4734. Bring the kids and let them pick out their own fruits and veggies. Plus, there are plenty of farm animals to visit and feed. One final green note: The produce at Sun High is not organic, but you can use an all-natural spray like Veggie Wash to remove any residue.
Do you have a farm or farmer's market that you frequent? Please share the details in the Comments section below.
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© 2012 by Joy Sussman/JoyfullyGreen.com. All rights reserved. Photos and text digitally fingerprinted. Site licensed by Creative Commons.
My family has been going to the Morristown Farmer's Market for years now. It's held every sunday from 8am to 2pm (not sure of exact hours...check the web site). It's a medium size market. Bigger than Chester or West Orange, smaller than Montclair.
They have one organic farmer and a few other produce vendors. There is a fresh fish stand (yes, the scallops at $20/pound ARE worth it), honey products, wonderful cheeses from the sheep farmer (get their butter...you'll never go back!!), a pickle guy, a baker or two and some organic butchers.
Bring your fat wallet as things aren't cheap, but the vegetables taste wonderful and will stay fresh for weeks.
When you taste really fresh food, you realize how poor the quality of store bought food is.
http://www.state.nj.us/jerseyfresh/searches/urban.htm
Posted by: Cheryl Katz | 08/03/2012 at 01:04 PM
Here in Oak Park, Illinois, we have a weekly Farmer's Market that runs only on Saturdays during the Summer and Fall. Farmers sell wares grown in Northern Illinois, Eastern Wisconsin, Northern Indiana and Western Michigan.
http://www.oak-park.us/farmersmarket/
http://www.localharvest.org/oak-park-farmers-market-M3299
http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/1617/oak-park/oak-park-farmers-market
When I was a child growing up in the St. Louis area, we would get our fresh produce year-round from one of these three places:
Market in the Loop, started in the 1970's:
http://www.creativeon-line.com/marketintheloop.html
Soulard Farmer's Market, first started in 1779, but running mostly since 1841:
http://www.soulardmarket.com/
And then there was this guy named Pete Daleo who sold fresh produce from a truck. He retired back in the 1980's and I seriously doubt that he is still living.
Posted by: Alex C Jones | 08/04/2012 at 08:51 AM
We have a CSA (Community supported Agriculture)share at Alstede Farms in Chester, NJ. We have been members there since they started their CSA three years ago. This is the best way to get your spring/summer/fall vegetables. Alstede's CSA starts in May and goes until the week before Thanksgiving. you pay in May and the cost averages out to around $20 a week for a box of veggies and fruit that would cost you at least double if you purchased the same items at the farm market. That's the beauty of the CSA, you get a bargain, and ridiculously fresh produce and the farmer gets crucial financial support to keep farming. There is nothing that can compare to getting your produce the day it is picked - in flavor and in keeping time - you will find that veggies and fruits you've had go bad the day after you brought them home from the grocery store will last literally for weeks when you bring them home from the farm the day they are picked.
Alstede's farm market also stocks eggs (from PA), some dairy products, their own honey, Four Sister's Winery wine, and Jersey fresh canned tomatoes, making summer trips to the supermarket few and far between. They also have fresh baked pies, fudge, apple cider doughnuts, and home made ice cream.
Genesis Farm in Blairstown, Ort Farm in Chester, and the Totten Family Farm in Long Valley also have CSA shares.
Another great place for fresh produce is Donaldson's Farm Market in Mansfield. They have the BEST corn, hands down, that I have ever tasted. They also have great broccoli - I usually buy bunches by the dozens - blanch it and freeze it for the winter. Donaldson's also sells dairy and breads and in-house baked pies.
Posted by: Karen Kamenetsky | 08/05/2012 at 05:14 PM
Thanks for that great info, Karen. I am glad to know about the other items that Alstede offers besides produce, so I can minimize my supermarket trips even more. Alstede is also great for children's activities, especially in the fall--hayrides, pumpkin picking, pony rides, etc.
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 08/06/2012 at 06:53 AM
Thanks, Alex! I'm always happy to learn about green sources outside of my state that I otherwise would not be able to provide here. Really appreciate those links.
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 08/06/2012 at 06:56 AM
I have been searching endlessly for really fresh, local seafood, so I will see you at the Morristown Farmer's Market--thank you, Cheryl!
Posted by: Joy @ JoyfullyGreen.com | 08/06/2012 at 06:57 AM