A (Blue) Jerseyfresh Ode to Autumn

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Sep 24, 2007 at 01:18:02 PM EDT

Go ahead and peek at our melons...

...or think about plucking our flowers....

...because it's autumn and it's Jersey fresh...

....and tender/crips is hard to resist.

Top Ten (or so) Reasons why local abundance jives with Progressive sensibilities

10.  Food Miles

9.  It tastes better. Get yourself a Jersey peach or tomato and compare it with its counterpart from Chile or California.  Hello.

8.  It's sound economics. Smart economic policy suddenly has a liberal tenor to it:  sustainability is hot hot hot.

7.  Mindful environmental stewardship.  We eat local and our farmers stay viable.  Who do you trust to look after the land?  A farmer or a devoloper?  'nuff said.

6.  Breathe, breathe in the air. Farms take carbon out of the air.  Strip malls don't.  New Jersey is way too densly populated to take this stuff lightly.

5.  Community  If you ever get down to a farmer's market in New Jersey you'll see what I mean.  For me, it's a Saturday morning ritual.  (Right before Blue Jersey BlogTalkRadio.)  Wherever you are in the Garden State, there's a farmstead nearby.  Find you local farmer's market, stand etc.  HERE.

4.  (Hat tip: Life Begins at 30)  "Buying locally grown food is fodder for a wonderful story."  Whether it's the farmer who brings local apples to market or the baker who makes local bread, knowing part of the story about your food is such a powerful part of enjoying a meal.

3.  So pretty to look at!  Click on these images to savor the bounty of the Collingswood Farmers Market.

2.  Peer pressure  All the cool kids are drinking liberally and eating locally! 

And finally (whew)....

1.  It's good for your health.  What's better than universal health care?  Not getting sick!  They say  an apple a day keeps the doctor away and guess what?  It's apple season!  So whether you like 'em sweet or tart or as pie fodder, here's your guide (scroll down) to Mother Nature's penicillin.