By Sara Moffett, Prepared Foods Manager, Co-op Owner
For Earth Day, Monday April 22nd, we are featuring a Cheesy Spinach Pumpkin Lasagna and Local Cherry Blueberry Cobbler! The lasagna will include cheeses made by Farm Country Cheese of Lakeview, organic spinach that is grown and harvested by Monroe Family Organics out of Alma, and organic pumpkins and yellow onions grown in Blanchard. The dessert will feature organic fruits from Great Lakes Farm to Freezer that are field ripened and freshly picked in Michigan.
Featuring and shopping for local items does a lot for our local food system and for our shoppers. When local foods are offered at farmers markets or your local co-op, you can support the local economy and try new and unique items that are grown in your area. This also creates an opportunity to become more aware of agricultural practices happening around your community and engage in taste testing unique locally grown and handmade products with a variety of tastes and textures! Many products that GreenTree carries are made right here in Michigan. Throughout the store you’ll see special signage with a picture of Michigan highlighting these items. We carry artisanal cheeses, jams, honey, produce, and much more! We also bring in seasonally available items that showcase items in peak, yet short, growing seasons, like Wild Ramps and Michigan Strawberries. By eating local, you may discover a new favorite hard to find ingredient. When I was at another co-op in the Upper Peninsula, an employee suggested I try (a very small jar) of Thimbleberry jam, a local, short season berry that is difficult to find, much like our morel mushrooms. Needless to say, this prompted my own exploration into finding the berries and making jam while in the U.P.
Not only does local food taste great, but eating local cuts down on fuel emissions, reducing the carbon footprint of its transportation. Also, lots of local produce uses less packaging than mass-produced alternatives. Bringing in your own shopping bag can help reduce waste even more! When you buy local produce, you are supporting local farmers’ efforts in maintaining farmland in your area. Farmers that are using sustainable practices help build biodiversity, promote clean air, water, and soil and help protect local pollinators. Understanding how your food is grown and who it is grown by can help create a deeper connection and appreciation to what you are eating. Buying local food circulates more money within the local economy and can support local employment and boost a strong community. Eating local is as easy as changing some shopping habits and being open to trying new things. Look for those Michigan signs and try some local products today!