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Fruit and Veggies

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Started 3 years ago by Tenzo
Latest reply from lisathewaitress

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Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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Where the heck do I get decent fruit and veggies in this city?
(and don't say North Market)
The problem with living in a secondary market is that nothing is fresh. I had the same problem in Philly. Food comes into LA, Chicago, Atlanta and New York (yes, not the actual city, except for Chicago). Then it's shipped out to secondary markets. More likely to a primary market, distribution area then secondary market.
Which means that I get two kinds. Ones picked before ripening and gassed or ones abused with preservation methods that destroy the taste (usually freezing). Blech blech blech
Where the heck do the restaurants get their produce?

Posted 3 years ago #
lifeliberty
Here
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you can try farmers markets. they have them downtown in pearl alley tuesdays and fridays. N market has some some weekends.

Posted 3 years ago #
Cyclist
Peach District (State of Mind)
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There are plenty of community gardens in the city and plenty of "pick your owns" for farms, this is good time of year for that since lots of people pick pumpkins and apples.
What exact fruits and veggies are you looking for? go to localmatters.org
Remember that the average piece of food comes from 1,500 miles away.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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Tenzo wrote Where the heck do I get decent fruit and veggies in this city?
(and don't say North Market)
The problem with living in a secondary market is that nothing is fresh. I had the same problem in Philly. Food comes into LA, Chicago, Atlanta and New York (yes, not the actual city, except for Chicago). Then it's shipped out to secondary markets. More likely to a primary market, distribution area then secondary market.
Which means that I get two kinds. Ones picked before ripening and gassed or ones abused with preservation methods that destroy the taste (usually freezing). Blech blech blech
Where the heck do the restaurants get their produce?
I don't think you're giving North Market the credit it deserves; the Greener Grocer is run by the people who run Local Matters, and they go out of their way to source as much of their fruit/veggies as they can locally -- precisely to avoid the issues you mention. Ask them about where their stuff comes from.
But you can also check here for local farmers' markets, produce auctions, roadside stands, and the like.

Posted 3 years ago #
mrblue1022

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In the Grandview area I would recommend Riffes Market on the corner of Fifth Ave and Grandview Ave.
If you are in the Powell/Worthington area I would recommend The Hills Market. If you are on 315N it ends just north of 270, and just north of that you will find The Hills Market.
If you are in Upper Arlington, try Huffman's Market, which is near the main library off of Tremont.
Pick up the September issue of Columbus Monthly and you will find a whole article about Ohio grown produce and some suggestions of other local groceries around town that carry local fruits and veggies.
Also, if you are on the east side of town (Gahanna area) you might want to try Roth Produce. They mostly due restaurants and catering companies, but they are one of the fresher produce distributors in the area.

Posted 3 years ago #
some dude in clintonville
Clintonville (obviously)
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Weiland's in Clintonville is fantastic.

Posted 3 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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mrblue1022 wrote In the Grandview area I would recommend Riffes Market on the corner of Fifth Ave and Grandview Ave.
I second that one. They do ok on meat too. The last ribeye I got there was simply excellent.

Posted 3 years ago #
lisathewaitress
SoHud
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Tenzo wrote Where the heck do I get decent fruit and veggies in this city?
(and don't say North Market)
The problem with living in a secondary market is that nothing is fresh. I had the same problem in Philly. Food comes into LA, Chicago, Atlanta and New York (yes, not the actual city, except for Chicago). Then it's shipped out to secondary markets. More likely to a primary market, distribution area then secondary market.
Which means that I get two kinds. Ones picked before ripening and gassed or ones abused with preservation methods that destroy the taste (usually freezing). Blech blech blech
Where the heck do the restaurants get their produce?
Considering you are - like it or not - living in a hugely agricultural are, it is ridiculous to say that this is a "secondary" market. If you eat in season, there are tons and tons of things to eat which are very tasty. I almost never buy fruits and veggies in a supermarket. I buy them all in season at the farmer's market and then freeze as much as possible. The only exception to this is the rare banana or other citrus, and then things like onions and the like when my supply runs out in the winter.
Also, there are lots of people on these boards who talk about buying locally - the slow foods people post, I post, and lots of others post about cooking and eating well.
There is a farmer's market somewhere almost every day of the week around here, and if you can't find something decent, you haven't even looked or tried the tons of advice available here on CU.

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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I go to the Pearl Alley farmers market on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the North Market farmers market on Saturdays. I have fresh produce galore. Lynd's fruit farm in Reynoldsburg area is great this time of year for apples, pears, squash, etc. Whole Foods (Sawmill and 161 especially) has a decent selection of fresh local produce. Roadside stands out in the country are also a good source. You'll have to get out and explore. I avoid Krogers and Giant Eagle - overpriced and not reliably fresh - maybe that's your problem.
There are some CSAs (community supported agriculture subscriptions) that deliver a box of produce to your doorstep every week during the growing season. It's a good time to research those for next year.

Posted 3 years ago #
Bear
The woods
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Tenzo wrote The problem with living in a secondary market is that nothing is fresh. I had the same problem in Philly. Food comes into LA, Chicago, Atlanta and New York (yes, not the actual city, except for Chicago). Then it's shipped out to secondary markets. More likely to a primary market, distribution area then secondary market.
The distribution system that you're describing is accurate for conventional produce in a non-agricultural area. But as Lisa points out, Columbus is very much in the heart of an agricultural area, and there's lots of local produce to be found. In fact, this recent survey of US cities ranks Columbus fifth in local food and agriculture.
So you're right that the corn that you get from Anaheim at a conventional market will have traveled quite some time and distance to get here. But there's a lot of local corn around (though I hear it's coming to an end) that didn't travel far at all and is incredibly fresh and delicious.
To answer your question about local chefs, some work directly with local farmers -- many of the same ones you see at the farmers' markets -- and get their produce there. Others work with distribution companies like MidWest Fresh that source from a variety of places -- increasingly local and organic, though that's especially challenging in the winter months.
Explore the OurOhio link I posted above. It's got plenty of info.

Posted 3 years ago #
AnneD
Taco-Nazo-Land
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Yes, what they said!
I've been a fairly strict locavore for a year and a half, and I eat tons of delicious fruit and veggies. There are more farmer's markets than you can shake a stick at here, and most of the produce is picked that morning. Can't get much fresher than that! There's even a winter farmer's market in Worthington.

Posted 3 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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Thanks guys, great feedback, I appreciate it!

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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It's not hard to spot local fruit and produce at Kroger and Giant Eagle anymore either. In season they sell a lot of great Ohio-grown corn, tomatoes, peppers, etc.

Posted 3 years ago #
Brewmaster
Portland, OR
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Walker - Did you guys follow through on this tradition?
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=528
We did pretty well up until life got crazy a few weeks back.
Tenzo - The $20/week plan works out really well. It gives you an excuse to go and make an event out of it. It'll also keep your fridge stocked with really fresh produce.

Posted 3 years ago #
Roland
Clintonville
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I think broccoli is my favorite vegetable. It looks like a little tree and tastes great with proud, patriotic AMERICAN cheese.

Posted 3 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Brewmaster wrote Walker - Did you guys follow through on this tradition?
http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=528
We did pretty well up until life got crazy a few weeks back.
It's been an off and on thing throughout the summer. Some Saturday mornings end up being double-booked with other plans, causing us to have to shift our North Market trips to other days, but we have been going at least once a week all summer.
Plus my veggie garden worked out so well that we've got more tomatoes and bell peppers than we know what to do with. Haven't had to buy those for quite awhile now. ;)

Posted 3 years ago #
enzo

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lisathewaitress wrote
Tenzo wrote Where the heck do I get decent fruit and veggies in this city?
(and don't say North Market)
The problem with living in a secondary market is that nothing is fresh. I had the same problem in Philly. Food comes into LA, Chicago, Atlanta and New York (yes, not the actual city, except for Chicago). Then it's shipped out to secondary markets. More likely to a primary market, distribution area then secondary market.
Which means that I get two kinds. Ones picked before ripening and gassed or ones abused with preservation methods that destroy the taste (usually freezing). Blech blech blech
Where the heck do the restaurants get their produce?
Considering you are - like it or not - living in a hugely agricultural are, it is ridiculous to say that this is a "secondary" market. If you eat in season, there are tons and tons of things to eat which are very tasty. I almost never buy fruits and veggies in a supermarket. I buy them all in season at the farmer's market and then freeze as much as possible. The only exception to this is the rare banana or other citrus, and then things like onions and the like when my supply runs out in the winter.
Also, there are lots of people on these boards who talk about buying locally - the slow foods people post, I post, and lots of others post about cooking and eating well.
There is a farmer's market somewhere almost every day of the week around here, and if you can't find something decent, you haven't even looked or tried the tons of advice available here on CU.
Bravo Lisathewaitress.....There are sooooo many local growers stationed around town...Whole Foods has one I think 2 times per week. I think we have nice produce here. There is a market in Bexley too that has nice local grown produce too. Merc is the local expert on this matter. I am sure if you sent him a note he could give you more details Tenzo.

Posted 3 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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I picked up sweet paprika peppers, purple bell peppers, red onions and mizuna at Pearl Alley today. Most farms will be there through the end of October.

Posted 3 years ago #
ARH
w. beach
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Clintonville Co-Op also has lots of locally grown produce.

Posted 3 years ago #
Tenzo
Chicago Lakeshore
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children of the corn wrote
Considering you are - like it or not - living in a hugely agricultural are, it is ridiculous to say that this is a "secondary" market. .
I can only stand so much corn

Posted 3 years ago #