Produce and fruit in winter

[Admin frugalmama]

Originally Posted by 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)

I'm not familiar with bitter melon...I'm going to have to look and see if we have them. It is amazing how different parts of the country have different products/produce.

[Admin Juleslian]

Originally Posted by Magwart

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.

That's totally us and it is exactly what's growing in my yard--off to collect some, scoop and freeze. I love all the great stuff I learn from you guys.

THANKS MAGWART!

[Sanderlina]

If you want to truly eat locally in the winter, you have to stockpile some things and preserve others. Traditionally, those who ate off the land just plain didn't eat much if any fresh fruit in midwinter.

You can learn to freeze and can - the idiot's guide to preserving food is good for this. This year we were buying tomatoes by the 25 lb crate ($10 at the farm market, in season) and canning them for winter. They'll be higher quality than most of the canned tomatoes you buy in a store, plus we know we supported our local farmers.

I do splurge on clementines because I cannot resist.

[Socmom5]

Canning and freezing is exactly what we did. I have a small garden but hit all the local sales. I live by Harry and David so I hit them weekly. We were able to get alot of marked down produce, last week I got a 25 pound box of pears for $5.

This summer we hit U-pick orchards, found an abandoned apple orchard and then canned our garden food. I have well over 250 jars of jellies salsas, fruits, tomatos, sauces etc to last during the winter. I also have 5 boxes in the garage of squashes and apples that will keep for months. We cook ALOT with them too, apples on panckaes, sliced apples for lunch, oven baked apples for dinner . .. lol

Also in many areas you can garden year round but people don't think of it. Even if you have a tiny spot, put in a little garden. Right now we are still eating red tomatos (ripening in the house), picking chard, carrots, lettuce, spinach, radishes and peas. I have broccoli coming on in a week, shortly followed by cabbage and cauliflower.

Several varieties will grow right through the snow . .. so it is a super economical and healthy option for winter!

[Admin Juleslian]

Originally Posted by Socmom5

I live by Harry and David so I hit them weekly. We were able to get alot of marked down produce, last week I got a 25 pound box of pears for $5.

*** faint ****

That is like a dream come true--nothing finer than Harry & David's pears.

[Tigger]

Originally Posted by Admin Juleslian

*** faint ****

That is like a dream come true--nothing finer than Harry & David's pears.

My thoughts too!

[Socmom5]

I do feel rather spoiled by that, it is funny because we get the huge boxes of produce and sometimes a few are slightly bruised but in general it is fine! Harry and David just won't sell anything that has even a tiny blemish. We gobble it up quicker then anything can go bad though. My kids have no idea how lucky they have it