The weather around here is strangely cool—Monday’s high was 65 degrees Fahrenheit at a time when 85 or 95 would be entirely unsurprising. Still, the produce in Monday’s bag from the Rolling Prairie Farmers Alliance reinforced the idea that the seasons, they are a-changing.
As you can see, we still have top o’ the summer crops—the tomatoes, peppers, beans and watermelons—but not so many as in past weeks, and the mesclun of spring has reappeared as the mesclun of fall. The RPFA’s raspberries continue their end-of-the-summer appearance, but we also had fall apples and pears to choose from this week.
I don’t envy these farmers. They got a late start due to the wet, wet spring. Now, with this apparent early start on fall, I’m wondering whether this could be one of the shorter seasons on record.
Meanwhile, I’ve heard a few grumbles from subscribers that the bounty has been, well, less bountiful this year. I reckon that it has been, but that’s what happens sometimes when farmers work with nature rather than against it. In the long run, though, I’ll bet my groceries on the adaptable local farmers. I just can’t see the “conventional” methods in California and Mexico, which rely on petrochemicals and scarce, piped-in water, being our long-term food solution. Besides, this stuff tastes a lot better.
We’d rather have a little of the best than lots of the adequate.
Janet Majure // Sep 9, 2008 at 5:29 pm
S&S-Well said. Couldn’t agree more.