So we all know that when it comes to food..."fresh is best", whether it be freshly baked cakes and cookies or freshly toasted toast with freshly spread butter ooozing into all the holes and cracks. But...the concept of "fresh is best" especially applies to our fruit and veggies! With so many of the health and wellbeing issues our society is facing these days related to what we eat (or don't eat!) it's never been more important to incorporate fresh fruit and veg into our everyday eating. Whilst our big supermarkets talk about being "fresh food" focussed the fact that they regularly stock products that aren't even grown in this country seems like a big red flag to this claim to me! How can garlic bulbs grown in Mexico or lemons imported from California be fresh?!?
One of the simple ways to try to ensure your fruit and veg are fresh if you need to buy from the supermarket is to check for things that are Australian grown. Another is to buy things that are in season - not only does this mean they will be fresher but they will also be cheaper. For example strawberries in winter in Melbourne are not in season as they are definitely a summer berry. Therefore avoid them...they will be more expensive, will have travelled greater distances to reach you and will more than likely be less tasty. Stick to winter fruits like crisp apple varieties, mandarins, kiwi fruit, navel oranges and sweet pear varieties to ensure freshness and increase savings.
Farmers markets are a fantastic way to shop for fruit and veg that is local, seasonal, cheap and tasty! They are popping up all over the place so it isn't as hard as you might think to find one nearby. Not only can you find gorgeous fruit and veg at these markets but also great local product like cheeses, breads, jams, chutneys and sauces not to mention great homemade pies, cakes and other treats. Some markets now even showcase varieties of organic and free range meats which are fabulous. The website http://www.famersmarkets.org.au/ is a great place to start if you're based in Australia but googling famers markets should point you in the right direction no matter where you are. Get a group of friends together and make a date once a month to check out a market and get all your fruit and veg and other goodies. Another idea is to share the shopping with your family or friends and take a turn each week to go and shop for everyone and then divide up the produce when you get back. That way you get fresh, seasonal produce every week but only have to go yourself maybe once a month!
There is something gorgeous about donning the gumboots, a scarf and beannie and browsing through the stalls, touching, smelling and even tasting....a real party for the senses. Remember to bring your reuseable shopping bags to really max out on the environmentalist-ness!
For those close to the Mornington Peninsula (it's really only an easy 90 min drive from Melbourne remember!) there are local markets on almost every weekend including Red Hill Market, The Mornington Farmers Market, Boneo Market, Rosebud Primary Market, Tootgarook Primary Market, Balnarring Market and more.
There are also lots of online delivery services for fresh, seasonal and organic produce to most areas, however this will incur a higher cost than schlepping to the market yourself and you miss the fabulous experience! For Melbourne-ites try http://www.greenlinedelivery.com.au/
Hopefully this is food for thought....fresher, cheaper, tastier and funner!?!?! How could it be better!
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