I caved......

Well...I am eating local farmed salmon again. I did not want to....I have not been purchasing farmed salmon for a few years. But fresh local fish is just too difficult to find in Fredericton....especially haddock. No one seems to know where the haddock is caught, even the fish guy at the market is iffy. So, I caved. Sigh…..but it is delicious. And local.

When things need fixin.......

In the last few months there have been recalls on produce (tomatoes, lettuce, etc) and now Maple Leaf products. In a previous post I mentioned I didn’t have to worry about tomatoes as I was only buying Canadian (the problem being in the US). That doesn’t work this time….in fact…it doesn’t work as long as we buy our food.

What can we do? We can start by asking more questions. We should know more about our food. Where it is from….how it was grown or processed. We also need to wash our produce….and then wash it again.

Is local food any safer? I am not sure, I would like to think so. I would like to think food is better if it is passed through fewer hands, machines and miles.

What can they do? Better inspections and better guidelines for inspections. And like everything else we purchase, our food needs to come with a guarantee. We do not need bigger and better….we need safer.

There should never have to be another recall on food.

I would like to think Michael McCain will raise the bar on inspections. I like him. I like that he has taken responsibility. In fact, with elections drawing near, I may just draw a box on my ballot and add his name.

Going......going

It is getting harder to find local produce at the 'Supermarkets'. I was expecting the decline in local produce to start mid October. This is too early.

I could only find US carrots at the Superstores....really...so soon? I did find Canadian ones at Sobeys...they are from PEI. I was away for the weekend so missed the market on Saturday...but assuming (and hoping) they still have lots of local ones.

Magic beans

I have no idea what kind of beans these are, or what to do with them. The little girl across the street brought one little plant home from school, and asked Kevin to plant it in our garden. He did and has been watching over it for a couple of months. The pods are almost a foot long...and the beans are red...and quite large. Whatever they are...the blossoms are beautiful, and the beans are plentiful. We are drying the seeds to plant next year. Perhaps by then we will know what to do with them.

Yes.......

The market did have local pears. And I actually had a choice. Local pears from Gagetown or Prince William. I am not sure of the distance....which is closer...but Gagetown was the winner.

And today I am trying to freeze a few...( thanks to the emails).

Upper Canada

I am really enjoying all this fresh produce. ( Fresh…not frozen….fresh… products from NB and Ontario). I may be eating my weight in peaches and pears from Ontario. I can’t seem to get enough of the pears. Last year I had local pears from Gagetown, I have yet to find any local pears this year. Perhaps I will find them today. I plan on visiting the local farmers market and the Country Pumpkin in Maugerville.

I am also trying to find a way to freeze pears. They are not even mentioned in my trusty Purity Cookbook. I have made apple pear sauce....tasty, but I really looking for other options. Anyone?.... anyone? Brueller?

Looking out my backdoor

We are almost at the end of the growing season.I still see lots of green in my garden, though the grape leaves are starting to change colour. The little vegetable garden is beginning to empty. The beans, greens and berries are finished. What do I have left? only a few tomatoes and lots of cucumbers.

It has been a very successful growing season......I can't complain