The summer has always been my favorite time of the year, mainly because of the availability of a large variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs. I have so many childhood memories that lie within the rows of a cherry orchard, a stand of apple trees, or stealing the peas from my mother‘s vegetable garden. Then there was the huge, juicy nectarines that would cool even the hottest of summer afternoons...
Growing up in an area of the world with a lengthy growing season and a desirable climate, fruit farms and ground crops used to be found lining the roads, filling the fields and trailing up terraced mountainsides. Today, vineyards and housing developments take the place of many of these areas. Today, much of the fruit and vegetables that arrive in our grocery stores and markets are imported, from other countries. Of course, there are certain necessary fruits and veggies that can only be grown in specific areas. Importing these products makes sense.
Coming from an area as I have though, I find it rather disappointing to be buying imported produce knowing plain well, that most of it grows very well right here. Sure, it is really not that big of a deal. Why does it matter where the stuff’s grown? A potato is a potato, a tomato is a tomato, why does it matter? Well, for me it does. When so many live in areas where produce is not readily available and has to be imported in, it does not make any sense for those in areas that can grow their own, to be as well.
This is what has lead me to working with nature and towards a more localized, greener future for myself. I like knowing where my food comes from.
