How to Eat Local in the Winter: 10 Foods You Can Find All Season Long

Eat LOCAL HOW TO - SUSTAINABLE - AMERICA - IN WINTER 10 FOODS YOU CAN FIND ALL SEASON LONG In many parts of the country, fresh, local produce is strictly limited by the seasons. But despite the dearth of fresh produce in winter, you can still round out your diet with locally sourced foods like the 10 listed here. You might have to do a little research to find them all in your area (start with localharvest.org), but your effort will be deliciously rewarded. 1. HARDY WINTER PRODUCE 2. MILK & CHEESE Root vegetables, squash and some hardy greens are available well into winter: When sourcing raw materials for cheesemaking, 71% of U.S. artisan cheesemakers manage and milk their own animals. ONIONS RUTABAGAS APPLES BEETS 3. LOCALLY MILLED FLOUR SQUASH PARSNIPS Locally milled flour might behave differently than the flour you're used to, so start with something forgiving, like muffins. CARROTS POTATOES 1 CUP LOCAL FOOD: DID YOU KNOW? CABBAGE KALE Buying from local farms saves energy from reduced transportation. 4. FROZEN MEATS Frozen meat from local suppliers is usually vacuum-sealed and packaged to last at peak quality for at least a year in the freezer. 5. EGGS 6. HONEY & MAPLE SYRUP Eggs from pastured hens contain up to 20 times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than those from factory hens. There are 300 varieties of honey in the U.S. OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS Once opened, 100% pure maple syrup can be refrigerated for 1 year or frozen indefinitely. 7. JAM & PRESERVES Grape is the most popular jam/preserve flavor, followed by strawberry, raspberry and orange. LOCAL FOOD: DID YOU KNOW? goe Strong local food systems diversify the food supply and improve our ability to withstand potential shortages. 8. CANNED & PICKLED VEGETABLES 53 days: The average time between pickle purchases in American households. LOCAL FOOD: DID YOU KNOW? Alternative agriculture creates 13 jobs for every $1M in revenue compared to 3 jobs for industrial agriculture. INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE ALTERNATIVE AGRICULTURE $1M IN REVENUE 13 JOBS 3 JOBS 9. FROZEN VEGETABLES &MEALS Nearby poultry farms may sell frozen potpies; Italian specialty stores or small-batch pasta makers often stock their freezers with homemade filled pastas like ravioli and tortellini. 10. WINE 750 million = Gallons of wine produced in the U.S. in 2012 That is enough wine to supply 15 bottles to every 21+ citizen in the Untited States. PLAN AHEAD FOR NEXT YEAR If you pine for summer's bounty this time of year, start to hash out a plan for canning, jarring, pickling and freezing next summer's produce. You can also plan ways to extend the season of your own garden with a DIY greenhouse or other strategies. SUSTAINABLE - A MER ICA - SOURCES: cheesesociety.org localharvest.org/pastured-eggs.jsp ttb.gov ats-sea.agr.gc.ca/amr/6137-eng.htm (jam stats] ilovepickles.org/book/export/html/14 honey.com stilltasty.com ttb.gov/statistics/2012/2012wine-final.pdf ers.usda.gov/publications/err-economic-research -report/err99.aspx#.UwvEDZFjZfM