Fall is an exciting time to be exploring the many food options provided by Ontario’s Greenbelt. It’s not only the time to wear cute fall jackets and boots, it’s also the time for apple picking and visiting local wineries. Start your local food adventure by visiting local farms and farmers’ markets to give you inspiration for where you can incorporate more local products in your diet.
We challenge you to try incorporating more in-season local produce in your everyday meals and snacks. To get you started you could try replacing or adding to the snacks you and your family enjoy with fresh in-season local fruits and vegetables.
Tip 1: Add whole grapes, chopped pears, cucumbers, and cauliflower in a container to snack on as you work.
Tip 2: Make a salad with spinach, beets, cooked barley and walnuts with your favourite vinaigrette and dairy product.
Tip 3: Try our beet or butternut squash soup. On the weekend, I make large batches of soups using in-season local products and I store the soups in sealed 500 ml jars. It makes it very easy for me to grab a jar in the morning and take it to work!
To help you get the most of the products available at the beginning of October, we’ve pulled together a list with the products you could be enjoying during breakfast, lunch and dinner - don’t forget about dessert! Click on the fruits or vegetables to see a list with the closest farm or farmers’ market that sells the product.
Fruits:
Vegetables:
While at your local farmers’ market or farm don’t forget to pick up local honey and maple syrup to sweeten up your favourite dishes. Add a new layer of flavour to your dishes with local herbs - try adding thyme to any mushroom dish to add a complimentary favour to the earthy taste of mushrooms.
– Andreea Nicoara
