It is that time of year here in the northeast…early Spring.

I certainly appreciate the season and have grown to enjoy the cold damp part of the year as more of an appreciation of more beautiful weather. However, the part that gets to me is the lack of variety in food. Right now you can still get Organic fruits and veggies in the store around here, but like most places they have to be flown and trucked in from all across the country and even world. It is nice to have them available, but the quality is just not there.

Even now, the root veggies and winter squash are getting old (okay, not the winter squash as I could have that any time of year). They are about the last of what is available at the farmer’s market. Some hardy greens are starting, but that doesn’t excite me too much. Sure I can go with frozen fruits and veggies as well, but they are still not quite the same as the fresh stuff. Plus, they too have to be shipped in.

What is really exciting is that great local asparagus is right around the corner! This is one of those that I love to eat for only a month or two out of the year as that is when it is truly phenomenal around the northeast. It is even better to go out and pick right from the garden.

As for fruits the cherries are not too far off before harvest in late spring. Sure they can go through the summer a bit depending on the variety, but it is one of those amazing fruits that just helps to waken up my taste-buds enough to get me ready for summer and all of the amazing flavors to come. Rainier would be my personal go to.

There are only a few things that I harvest in the wild and stinging nettles is one of them. They are a great thing to go out and pick on a crisp spring morning with bright sunshine. Bring them back, clean them up and saute them up for lunch in as much butter as they can handle! You’d be hard pressed to find a better green to enjoy.

Despite a current lack of variety in fresh local foods, they are soon on the way. In the meantime it is a great time to get some seeds started to get a jumpstart on your garden. This way you can start enjoying those fresh goodies as soon as possible. What is your favorite fruit veggie that is right around the corner?

Have a Great Day!

Nick Horowski