Where's your broccoli from?!?

[Loves Vintage]

In keeping with my tradition of starting threads about vegetables, here's another one!

On occasion, I buy produce from a local produce market that sometimes also sells native produce, which I always scoop right up. They had native asparagus yesterday! Yum.

I was talking to the kid that works there, and he told me that they sometimes get their broccoli from China. WHAAAAAAAAAAT? How is that even possible? I know that the US imports a lot of garlic from China, and I figure that's because it's dry and transports easily. I DO NOT buy loose garlic at the grocery store any longer. I only buy packaged garlic and hope that the package labeling (made in US) is accurate.

I recall a few months back, I was at the regular super-market, and I noticed a box of veggies (do not recall what kind) that said "from China" or something to that effect. I asked another worker if whatever vegetable was in that box was from China. He assured me that, no, it was the box that was from China. They don't get their vegetables from China. Maybe he didn't even know where they came from? This is sort of an irrelevant aside, but hello grocery world, I am going to be all over you with questions now!!

Oh, and here's a fun article I'd like to call: "Would you like some formaldehyde with your cabbage?" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-17981323

 

[movie zombie]

i my veggies at the farmers' market directly from the farmer.
IF and it is a rare IF i buy any veggies in a super market its from our local New Leaf or perhaps a Whole Foods in santa cruz and only if its labeled as to where it is from.
i don't like buying produce unless i know where it was grown.

i'm trying to get over my prejudice against mexican produce because there really is an organic movement down there that is raising for export. legit organic operations by real people not US agri business.

not keen on eatting anything from china these days.....

 

[Loves Vintage]

MZ - I wish I lived where you do. We just don't have that much local produce available here.

Sooooo, I spoke with the produce manager at my regular supermarket. He confirmed that the broccoli they currently have is from the US. He's got just ginger and garlic from China. He stated, independently without my asking first, that a lot of their boxes do have a Hong Kong label, and he suspects the kid in the produce market may have mistook that label (if they buy from the same company) to mean that the contents were from HK. I remember now, that the box I saw a few months ago, said HK and not PRC. I recall one of the reasons that I asked was because HK did not make sense because I couldn't comprehend that there would be any large scale farming there!!

Sooo, I may have overreacted a bit!

 

[nkarma]

i my veggies at the farmers' market directly from the farmer.
IF and it is a rare IF i buy any veggies in a super market its from our local New Leaf or perhaps a Whole Foods in santa cruz and only if its labeled as to where it is from.
i don't like buying produce unless i know where it was grown.

i'm trying to get over my prejudice against mexican produce because there really is an organic movement down there that is raising for export. legit organic operations by real people not US agri business.

not keen on eatting anything from china these days.....

I am a Norcal Locavore like MZ. Definitely try to get anything you can from the farmer's market. The produce there is many times better for you and you can taste it too. All of the major supermarket retail produce is engineered to ship large distances (like China, Chile, or wherever) which usually results in robbing it of a lot of it's nutritional value. You as a consumer can ask your grocer where your produce comes from and then not buy it if it does not fit your standards. Expect the same of the food you eat out too, and if enough people do this, things will change. I am in love with tomatoes and that is now why I ask for no tomatoes when I order a sandwich, salad, whatever when they are out of season. Also, LV since you said there is not much fertile farm land nearby, try ordering from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. We do that during the winter and at least our grapefruit is from a small farm in Texas instead of China.

If you want to read more about this subject, try Omnivore's Dilemma by Polan or Tomatoland.

 

[Skippy123]

MZ - I wish I lived where you do. We just don't have that much local produce available here.

Sooooo, I spoke with the produce manager at my regular supermarket. He confirmed that the broccoli they currently have is from the US. He's got just ginger and garlic from China. He stated, independently without my asking first, that a lot of their boxes do have a Hong Kong label, and he suspects the kid in the produce market may have mistook that label (if they buy from the same company) to mean that the contents were from HK. I remember now, that the box I saw a few months ago, said HK and not PRC. I recall one of the reasons that I asked was because HK did not make sense because I couldn't comprehend that there would be any large scale farming there!!

Oh good, phew! I thought that was weird it would come from China; you would think it would rot when it got here. I get veggies at the farmers market but sometimes Costco and Trader Joes. I do get Organic; there are strict rules for organic though.

 

[Skippy123]

i my veggies at the farmers' market directly from the farmer.
IF and it is a rare IF i buy any veggies in a super market its from our local New Leaf or perhaps a Whole Foods in santa cruz and only if its labeled as to where it is from.
i don't like buying produce unless i know where it was grown.

i'm trying to get over my prejudice against mexican produce because there really is an organic movement down there that is raising for export. legit organic operations by real people not US agri business.

not keen on eatting anything from china these days.....

I am a Norcal Locavore like MZ. Definitely try to get anything you can from the farmer's market. The produce there is many times better for you and you can taste it too. All of the major supermarket retail produce is engineered to ship large distances (like China, Chile, or wherever) which usually results in robbing it of a lot of it's nutritional value. You as a consumer can ask your grocer where your produce comes from and then not buy it if it does not fit your standards. Expect the same of the food you eat out too, and if enough people do this, things will change. I am in love with tomatoes and that is now why I ask for no tomatoes when I order a sandwich, salad, whatever when they are out of season. Also, LV since you said there is not much fertile farm land nearby, try ordering from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. We do that during the winter and at least our grapefruit is from a small farm in Texas instead of China.

If you want to read more about this subject, try Omnivore's Dilemma by Polan or Tomatoland.

wow I didn't know that. would organic be able to be shipped from China too?? I would think Organic would rot a lot quicker.

 

[Ninna]

I don't think you overreacted LV, the truth is...we are getting all kinds of stuff from all over the glove, scary
It all starts at home, talk to your local farmers or agricultural extension, they can send you a complete catalog.
Broccoli and the rest in the mustard family is grown year-round where I live [with a slight dip in December].
Knowing what and when things are produced in your area helps sort out foreign items.

 

[minousbijoux]

I have a big garden and what I don't get from there, I try and buy from the farmers market or from the organic section of the supermarket. Right now, though, I'm happy to report that the broccoli, romanesco, peas, radishes, swiss chard, and lettuce are from my organic garden. I don't grow fruit, though so I'm off to the farmers market to get as much fresh fruit as my boys and I can eat...

 

[Loves Vintage]

Ninna - That's really great that you have access to a good deal of produce locally year-round! I have more or less accepted the fact that our farmer's markets are only open for a few months each year. I would prefer produce shipped from CA, but have to accept the fact that some produce will come from Mexico and some (like bananas, even organic!) will come from S. America. For certain things, like berries, nectarines and grapes, I rarely buy them out of season. But, I don't know that I have access to US grown bananas even if they are in season (no idea when that would even be!) When you say to talk to the agricultural extension for a catalog, I'm not sure what you mean? A catalog of where foods are likely to come from? Oh, just re-read your post, I think you mean a catalog of when veggies are grown here?

nkarma- Thanks for the recommendations. I feel like I know just enough about scary-food to know that I don't want to know more. I was very happy to talk to the produce manager at our store and will introduce myself the next time I'm in. He didn't give the impression that I was asking less-than-typical questions, but I'm fairly sure that country-of-origin ("COO") information is not on most people's radar here when they are shopping for food. We did do a CSA one year where we picked up food from a farm about 30 mins from my husband's work, but we found that we didn't use a lot of the veggies, and there was a heck of a lot of kohlrabi! Not a fan, lol! There's another farm stand that I purchase from (best.broccoli.ever -- tastes buttery, with no butter!), so I do know that local tastes better, and I do think that people are increasingly interested in farm markets, etc., but no where near the scale to which people are involved in CA. Oh, I think we do have good soil for growing here (in CT), but growing season is just too short. The TX to CA CSA that you spoke of sounds brilliant. I know there's a company out of OR or WA that ships produce to drop off points, but never called to confirm they ship to CT. Oh, and DH has a garden this year, and we're composting again too! Had some green onions from the backyard in our curry yesterday. Yum!

MB - Sounds delightful. Have you ever tried growing strawberries?

Skippy - Haha, sorry for the false alarm. Do you buy your product at WF? I think they label their signs fairly well with COO. I know the organic pears (in the bags) at TJ's are from S. America. Chile maybe?

 

[monarch64]

Mine is from the freezer.

We get a lot of local produce from farmer's markets and co-ops here in our community (Midwest). I planted a garden this year so we will have access to even more. Fruit is really the only thing it is harder for us to get, but I can drive to my hometown and purchase locally grown fruits if I want to spend the gas money. My parents used to have a mature fruit orchard on their property but sadly tornadoes mostly demolished it since the early 1990's and they never replanted. They still get plenty of persimmons, apples and pears, but there was a time when they had peaches and cherries. We also used to pick mulberries, raspberries, blackberries wild off the vine and my mother and great grandmother would make terribly unhealthy but delicious cobblers out of them. Oh, and pies. Mmmm delicious pies. My aunt still makes all sorts of pies from scratch for the family restaurant. They are magnificent. But we were talking about broccoli...oops.

 

[minousbijoux]

Mine is from the freezer.

We get a lot of local produce from farmer's markets and co-ops here in our community (Midwest). I planted a garden this year so we will have access to even more. Fruit is really the only thing it is harder for us to get, but I can drive to my hometown and purchase locally grown fruits if I want to spend the gas money. My parents used to have a mature fruit orchard on their property but sadly tornadoes mostly demolished it since the early 1990's and they never replanted. They still get plenty of persimmons, apples and pears, but there was a time when they had peaches and cherries. We also used to pick mulberries, raspberries, blackberries wild off the vine and my mother and great grandmother would make terribly unhealthy but delicious cobblers out of them. Oh, and pies. Mmmm delicious pies. My aunt still makes all sorts of pies from scratch for the family restaurant. They are magnificent. But we were talking about broccoli...oops.

Oh, Monarch, you make me laugh!

 

[Ninna]

Ninna - That's really great that you have access to a good deal of produce locally year-round! I have more or less accepted the fact that our farmer's markets are only open for a few months each year. I would prefer produce shipped from CA, but have to accept the fact that some produce will come from Mexico and some (like bananas, even organic!) will come from S. America. For certain things, like berries, nectarines and grapes, I rarely buy them out of season. But, I don't know that I have access to US grown bananas even if they are in season (no idea when that would even be!) When you say to talk to the agricultural extension for a catalog, I'm not sure what you mean? A catalog of where foods are likely to come from? Oh, just re-read your post, I think you mean a catalog of when veggies are grown here?

First off, sorry for the preggers spelling of Globe and being vague
Ahhh Bananas...one of the few fruits that must be imported. All 300+ varieties require hot-humid weather/fertile soil. It's #4 on the list of staple crops in the world with huge profit. We mostly see 'chiquita' Cavendish in our supermarkets but I prefer certified 'organic chiquita' from Peru. Organic bananas are sprayed with water or dusted with ashes to control scab moth after their flower bracts have been removed vs Tridex & Actellic.
Cooperative Extension Services, any University in your town with Agricultural Sciences Major [AGSC], Farmers Market Association or a Master Gardener in town have publication pages, catalog or handbooks that infrom you what is growing, where to buy it and crop trials.
Some are Online:
http://www.fieldtoplate.com/guide.php

charts:
http://cuesa.org/page/seasonality-chart-vegetables

let's say you are looking for garlic:
http://cuesa.org/food/garlic

 

[Lovinggems]

There's no importation of bananas to Australia. It's interesting though how the banana commercial industry started here while I try to verify the first statement.
http://www.chia.chinesemuseum.com.au/biogs/CH00008b.htm

 

[movie zombie]

yes, very blessed to not live in california but to live near an area where local farmers can get their produce to market year round.

i only eat veggies in season. i too order sandwiches w/o tomato unless it is summer and i know its been locally sourced. many places here actually list on the menu where the produced was sourced by farm name! many of the local eateries buy from the same local and organic farmers i purchase my produce from.

i also buy lots of some things and freeze them for winter use.
i have a small summer garden.

i found belonging to a CSA at one point forced me to ask "what is that?" and then i actually enjoyed having to find out how to cook "that". however, i'm a control freak and prefer to pick out my own produce based on our needs; for instance, knowing i we have weekend plans means i need less produce because we won't be home. i also prepare my husband's meals that he takes to work, usually both lunch and dinner [he comes home later than i want to be in the kitchen doing clean up.....sometimes very late but then he goes in later, too]. he has noticed fewer "stomach issues" and his dr noted a lowering of blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.

for the CT pricescopers: http://www.ctnofa.org/CSAs.htm

a quick online search will reveal many resourses to good fresh produce. it does get harder for those in the extreme cold regions. that's where having a freezer and freezing your own produce comes in handy.

anything i have in excess gets frozen and used in stews and/or soups.
i deliberately bought cantalope and froze it for smoothies.
i freeze blueberries.
i freeze kale.
i freeze cranberry beans, shelled and uncooked.
never had a problem with any of it.

the area i live in is extremely conscious re food systems and the political nature of food. but more and more SF bay area restaurants are also listing the sources for their produce AND their meat on their menus. if its not listed, i ask. i tend to eat vegetarian when out because why would i settle for an inferior product when i have better at home?! but if i find out that the meat is from a group i know, well, then i just might have that meat dish.

Palin's books are great. there is so much info if one wants to find it. besides, its not only nutrious and healthy to eat better, as noted above, it is even better when it tastes good.

oh, one last thought: what most think of as a ripe peach is not. society has been conditioned as to what "ripe" is because of the necessity of shipping. i find that even pit fruits in the farmers markets are not ripe as i define ripe....but i grew up on a peach and berry farm in an area that was all orchards. the very best peach i've ever tasted is no longer available.....doesn't travel well so orchards were pulled and replanted with those that do. sad. but my parents still have one tree!

 

[amc80]

I am a Norcal Locavore like MZ. Definitely try to get anything you can from the farmer's market. The produce there is many times better for you and you can taste it too. All of the major supermarket retail produce is engineered to ship large distances (like China, Chile, or wherever) which usually results in robbing it of a lot of it's nutritional value. You as a consumer can ask your grocer where your produce comes from and then not buy it if it does not fit your standards. Expect the same of the food you eat out too, and if enough people do this, things will change. I am in love with tomatoes and that is now why I ask for no tomatoes when I order a sandwich, salad, whatever when they are out of season. Also, LV since you said there is not much fertile farm land nearby, try ordering from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm. We do that during the winter and at least our grapefruit is from a small farm in Texas instead of China.

If you want to read more about this subject, try Omnivore's Dilemma by Polan or Tomatoland.

I was born and (mostly) raise in Norcal...in the Central Valley...land of orchards and fruit stands. I briefly lived on the east coast and was shocked at how bad the produce was. Everything was just so...small and blah. Now I'm in Northern NV. It's not horrible, but definitely not Norcal quality (or prices). Whenever we go over the mountain we make sure to stop at a fruit stand and stock up!

 

[minousbijoux]

Yesterday for dinner I had a salad with paper thin sliced radishes, leeks that were such babies that I used them like scallions and fresh shelled peas. Its the kind of thing that I would not order in a restaurant because its so blah, but I picked it all less than an hour before I ate it, and it was SO GOOD. Not always, but most of the time, when its freshly picked like that, its so amazingly good that its memorable. Sooner or later, though, that will be tempered by the slug I find on my plate, sigh

 

[movie zombie]

....... Sooner or later, though, that will be tempered by the slug I find on my plate, sigh

LOL!

i have rat wars.....if i leave a tomato on the fine one day longer to get it really really really ripe, the damn rat nibbles.

 

[minousbijoux]

What is it with those critters? One year, I had a rat who would take a bite out of each zucchini/tomato/cucumber/pepper I guess to find the best one. Problem was that with a bite taken, it would rot pretty quickly. Arrghh! I guess he/she never heard of sharing or community.

 

[movie zombie]

i live in a forest so i guess the critters think that i've planted just for them!