STRAWBERRIES!!!!
June 15 2011
Nova Scotia, our home province, is home to some of the best, juiciest and tastiest strawberries grown anywhere. And strawberry season has begun. 
I got the first berries of the season this past Saturday. Strawberry season lasts about 6 weeks maximum and ripe local berries are the epitome of eating local (there are late season berries as well, but they are not as good). Once you taste a local berry, in season, picked at optimum ripeness, you’ll understand what the whole “eating local” fuss is about. There is no substitute for a wonderful local strawberry.
This spring has been wet and cloudy in Nova Scotia and many of our crops have suffered from this lack of sun. Everything is about 3 weeks behind schedule at this point. So while asparagus and fiddleheads have been available for a few weeks, everything else has been delayed.
I also got the first sugar snap peas of the season this week…they were excellent. This is why I get up at 6am on a Saturday so I can get to the market early and make sure I don‘t miss out on any new foods that are available. It also ensures that I have my choice when it comes to available fish and cuts of beef…I got mackerel and some hanger steak this week. I like to avoid the crowds and get my food shopping for the week done early so I can go about planning the week’s meals and doing other stuff around the house.
While I’m not suggesting you need to get up that early every Saturday morning to shop at your local market, I do know that buying local is very important to me and my family. By buying local we are supporting our farmers and local businesses which we feel is keeping our home town and our home province healthy and vibrant places. And, local food just tastes better… and no, IT DOES NOT COST MORE!
