GUEST BLOGGER: Suburban Shortage of Local Foods

I have been involved with Farm Aid for the last 15 years as their auditor. During that time, I have become educated about what is healthy food. However, I live in the suburbs of Boston, MA where local, organic, or family farmed food is not so readily available. The only organic food I can ever remember eating was at a Farm Aid concert. In recent years, I have been able to buy organic since Whole Foods Market finally moved to town. I always go out of my way to drive to the country for fresh corn; there is nothing quite like it.

So you can imagine how excited I was to read in my local newspaper that a Farmers Market was going to open every Thursday right in my home town of Chelmsford, MA. I drive right by it on my way home from work. Last night, I finally made my first stop. There were only two farms represented but I know I witnessed more booths on other Thursdays as I drove by.

Did the farms not return because of lack of produce or because people weren't interested? The first booth was from an organic farm. I purchased something I amfamiliar with and know I will eat; green beans. I wanted to spread the whole $5 that I spent between both farms, so I proceeded to the next booth. This was not an organic farm but was working towards becoming one. The farm is farmed by a mix of different ethnic farmers so there were vegetables available that I had never seen before. The farmer introduced me to a new local ingredient: Asian eggplant. It is the size of a tennis ball and green. She told me that it had the consistency of an eggplant but the taste of a zucchini. She gave me lots of ideas how to cook it and then invited me back next Thursday to share my dining experience with her.

I haven't eaten my purchases yet but know that I am in store for a treat. Now that I have made my first farmer's market purchase, which didn't disrupt my routine, I will be stopping every Thursday. I also learned about a farm not too far away that is certified organic and sells CSA shares where I can purchase weekly or monthly produce from the farm in predetermined quantities. I am going to investigate how to get involved. I'll let you know how it works out.
~Debbie Dobbins, CPA, mother, famer's market frequenter