Produce and fruit in winter

[cheap momma]

This summer I recently discovered produce and fruit from farms. Apparently I did not think to wonder what would happen in the winter. I am really dreading buying produce from the stores this winter since I got so use to the farms.

I was wondering, what do you all do for the winter? Obviously next year I am going to start freezing in the late summer. But now, I might be out of luck unless you all can give me some ideas.

Thanks!

[Admin Juleslian]

locally farmed or not I wouldn't go a day, much less a season without eating fresh produce. We go with the flow of the seasons to optimize the freshness and quality of the produce we eat. It may take a longer ride to get to us but as a veg family, the nutrition it provides remains a critical part of our livelihood. Store produce is not anathema to me and mine.

Winter is here so it's time for squashes, onions, roots, heartier greens, cabbage, tropical fruits, apples, citrus fruits. The produce section of any store is still overflowing, no matter the season.

What did you do before you got stuff from the farm?

[Magwart]

I think it's a matter of reassessing the kind of fruit you eat in the winter -- there's a surprisingly nice variety in season right now. I really love some of the fruit that's only available in Fall/Winter. Pomegranates are heavenly, and only available for a short time (now), so I really enjoy them. DH and I can easily split a large one between us and it will be gone in minutes. I also love Satsuma mandarins and blood oranges, which are not quite fully in season yet, but I'll eat lots of them all winter long. Some varieties of local avocados (e.g., fuerte) are also in season right now, as are feijoas (guavas). I've also been seeing some very good prices at local ethnic markets on kiwis and pineapples. Whole cranberries are also finally making an appearance at the markets, and we love them (a handful tossed in a pot of oatmeal while it's simmering is delicious).

I'm lucky to have a lot of winter-producing trees in my backyard (avocado, satsuma, feijoa, Meyer lemon, and producing for the first time this year, pomegranate; we're planting a blood orange tree this year, too). I add in a weekly visit to a local ethnic market to supplement, though.

[Admin Juleslian]

Hey, Mag--how do you eat guavas? Every time I've tried them they seem woody to me. We actually have pineapple guava trees but the fruit just isn't happening for my palate--what do you do with them?

[Magwart]

Feijoas are sometimes called pineapple guavas, but I don't know whether they're really the same thing. My neighbor has what she says are pineapple guavas (they're yellow), and I find the flavor of her fruit a little off-putting. Mine are green and have a different flavor than hers. Here's what I've got:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feijoa

The pulp is a little "gritty." I am not crazy about eating them as-is for that reason. The flavor is very mild, so it works for us as a "base" for fruit smoothies. The grittiness diminishes in the blender, particularly after being frozen. I also made some sorbet from this fruit last year, which was surprisingly good. We just cut them in half length-wise and scoop the pulp out of the skin with a melon baller or spoon.

When we moved into this house, we thought the feijoas were a "nuisance fruit"--the tree dumped barrels-full of the fruits every fall, and we just shoveled them into the compost bin, grumbling the whole time about how annoying the fruit-drop was. Finally I researched what they were online, and figured out that they're great in sorbet and smoothies and froze dozens of quart-bags of the pulp. We ate the pulp in smoothies all winter long. It's taken me quite a few years to "make friends" with that tree, but I'm finally there.

[cheap momma]

We use to go to the store. However, after driving by a farm one day we decided to drop in. We never bough produce from the store again. There was no comparison. I also recently found out that buying fruit in season is not only fresher but cheaper that is why we stuck to farms. But now the majority of our farms are closed for the winter... we are in Ohio.

I just came back from the farmers market and saw many citrus and pomegranete. I think I may work with those for the season.

Originally Posted by Admin Juleslian

locally farmed or not I wouldn't go a day, much less a season without eating fresh produce. We go with the flow of the seasons to optimize the freshness and quality of the produce we eat. It may take a longer ride to get to us but as a veg family, the nutrition it provides remains a critical part of our livelihood. Store produce is not anathema to me and mine.

Winter is here so it's time for squashes, onions, roots, heartier greens, cabbage, tropical fruits, apples, citrus fruits. The produce section of any store is still overflowing, no matter the season.

What did you do before you got stuff from the farm?

[Reubli]

A lot of pricing depends on where you live regionally. We live in an apple region, so we gorge on apples and pears in the fall and winter and I'm able to buy lots and store them in the garage for some time. We also splurge on clementines in the winter because they are too yummy. Next summer, if you can, go berry picking and get as much as you can -- blueberries and strawberries freeze up very well, are often cheaper than the store, and can last you far into the winter.

[FabFive]

We live in Northern VA and enjoy produce all year round. Granted we have fewer options in the winter than the summer, but last week I got apples, bok choy, broccoli, sweet potatoes, dill, lettuce, pears, tomato sauce, fresh bread, pesto ...I use my GG savings to splurge at the farmers' market.

[Admin frugalmama]

I agree...I think you just have to get creative with what you buy. My kids know that strawberry season is over...but I bought 20 lbs of apples last week...and they were delish. Because we don't have the same fruit all year round, my kids enjoy the change in seasons...they get new fruits. I also tend to go with more dried, and sometimes even canned fruits in the winter. Granted, canned fruits are NOT like fresh fruits, but since we eat SO much it helps me make my way back to summer.

[Tigger]

I try different seasonal products. Yesterday at the ethnic market I purchased bitter melon. Yes, I know it sounds bad, but I watch others buy it and I finally decided to give it a try. Who know, I may have found a new, low cost favorite vegetable. (Maybe I shouldn't go quite that far)