It's hard to tell what's in season anymore

The produce section of supermarkets are eternally brimming with variety after variety of colorful fruits and vegetables. You'd never know it from the displays that it's the tail end of winter here. Sure, I guess it can be great to get strawberries whenever you want, but the flavor?? It's like eating....nothing. It seems strange that you have to really do some legwork to figure out which foods are in season.

You're more likely to see what's in season when you visit a natural foods co-op. I stopped in to Mississippi Market co-op today for a more accurate view. Almost all of the vegetables were from California or Mexico, with the sole local reps being the root vegetable brigade. I'm at the point in the year where roots have lost their allure.

Here in Minnesota, we're in a period of waiting. It's been an endless winter and the beginning signs of spring last week had everyone breathing a sigh of relief. Now snowflakes are drifting through the sky again. I'm reminding myself this too shall pass and we're on the downward slope to warmer weather soon.

I do have to admit that one of the greatest things about living in the Midwest is the changing of the seasons. I like the variety and the anticipation. Sure, California can have local produce any month of the year, but here in the Midwest, we earn it, this food is hard fought for and eagerly anticipated. The growing season is short, so we prize the local produce we have when we have it.

I'm dreaming of receiving the first CSA shipments of the season. We're subscribers of Harmony Valley Farm and their first deliveries begin in May, earlier than many other CSAs in our area. Already, my mouth is watering and my mind is racing planning all of the meals that we'll have.