How fresh!

Fresh used to be a word describing someone who was behaving rudely.  

Today fresh is a word that implies goodness, quality, something desirable. 

Fresh produce is not expensive to grow on your own – though it does take time, energy and effort. 

Fresh produce you purchase can be expensive – ask the watermelon lover who buys some in February in Michigan! 

We are blessed with a long growing season in South Carolina and from early May until late October we can enjoy an ever changing bounty of vegetables and fruits.  Learning to enjoy what is in season when it is in season allows us to have the freshest at the lowest price.

There are now farmers’ markets all over Greenville County and an effort is being made to make sure low income families that receive SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Food Stamps) benefits can purchase fresh items at the Saturday Market on Main Street in Greenville using their EBT card.  Other markets have similar programs.

There’s also the chance to learn from the farmers.  They love to get questions about what variety you’re looking at or how to prepare different items.  If you’re looking for something in particular ask if they grow it or know a farmer who does.

If you’re looking for a farmers’ market close to you check out the St. Francis Community Garden blog http://lg35communitygarden.blogspot.com/     and go to the April 26, 2010 “Local, Local, Local” post for a list of local area markets. 

Fresh is best and fresh and accessible is even better.

It isn’t just about the groceries.

Next time you go shopping for groceries, give this a try.  When you reach your vehicle with your full grocery cart instead of emptying it into your vehicle pick up all of the bags you have, as many as you can possibly hold in each hand.  As you stand holding the bags, think about shopping with two small children, say 2 and 4 years old.  Consider how you are going to get home with all those bags, the two small children both of whom really need to be holding hands with you.  Take a look at the area surrounding the store where you shop.  Where are the sidewalks?  How many major intersections would you have to cross to get those groceries and those precious children home safely?  How far would all of you have to walk?

More than 50,000 people in Greenville County live more than a mile from a grocery store and do not have a car.  For many the closest store that sells food is a convenience store with no fresh produce or meat.  For many that closest store also has the highest prices.  For many, not being able to get to a full service grocery store means having to purchase smaller, more expensive packages of food instead of taking advantage of bigger packages at better prices.

Access to food, preferably healthy food, is about more than just having the money to purchase the food.  If you can’t get there, and then get home with the food you need, you can’t feed your family. 

It isn’t just about the groceries.