By Brandy Voirin/reporter
Down on the farm has a whole new meaning. Gone are the days where you must live on a farm to enjoy fresh foods. Now, they can be found right in the backyard. Whether you buy or grow local, the options to eat fresh are endless.
Growing up in Everman, my sisters and I enjoyed watching and waiting for the right time to pick luscious fresh fruit from our very own peach tree to make peach cobblers and peach jams for the family and our neighbors.
Many novice gardeners, local schools and even prisoners have taken on local gardening successfully.
Maybe because watching something grow from seed to plant is inspiring. Or maybe due to this summer’s Avian flu that resulted in a national egg shortage, people are becoming more aware of where their food comes from.
Growing it yourself or buying it local might be the best option for safety.
Just take a look at Harvest to Home, a farm outside Denton that promises customers weekly boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables delivered to their doors.
These farmers supply the ripest produces of the season while practicing sustainable gardening practices.
At the Coppell Farmers Market, farmers bring only what is ripening and in season. The market also offers a seasonal chart on its website.
Then there is Rent the Chicken, a couture service that brings the chicken to consumers. No longer are consumers wondering what’s in the supermarket eggs. Now, they will have a firsthand look at the growing process. Hens are delivered to customers’ doors with coop, feed, water and instructions. Just return the chicken when done, for a fee of course.
Then there are the big box stores — Whole Foods Market, Central Market and Sun Fresh — which offer a small variety of local produce.
At the end of the day, transparency in the growing process is of utmost importance. What chemicals are used on produce and how far it took the egg to land at the grocery store matters. Supporting local farmers matters. So choose wisely.
