I hope you all enjoyed the very first episode! In my blog, I will detail the recipes I'm cooking as well as what I'm using to make it. Please comment your thoughts!
* Add variation to dressings by using different vinegars, or seasonal acidic fruits in
place of the fig balsamic
* Example: 3 T olive oil, 1.5 T balsamic, and 1 garlic clove, yields 4 T of dressing. Typically you need 1.5-2T of dressing for 4 cups of salad (2 servings)
Salad Dressing
Ingredients:
- 3 Part Olive oil
- 1-2 Parts Fig Balsamic* (per taste preference)
- 1 Garlic clove
- Salt & pepper to taste
Directions:
- Using a garlic press, squeeze a fresh clove of garlic into the olive oil and let it sit for at least 1 hour (and up to 24 hours)
- Add salt, pepper and fig balsamic, whisk until oil and vinegar blend as one
* Add variation to dressings by using different vinegars, or seasonal acidic fruits in
place of the fig balsamic
* Example: 3 T olive oil, 1.5 T balsamic, and 1 garlic clove, yields 4 T of dressing. Typically you need 1.5-2T of dressing for 4 cups of salad (2 servings)
Produce Washing Solution
Ingredients:
- 3 parts filtered water
- 1 part apple cider vinegar
Washing Directions:
- Dip smooth produce (apple, peppers) in washing solution
- Soak produce with rough skin or curly leaves (Kale, cantaloupe) for 2 minutes
- Rinse well
- Dry on lint free towels (ie. Flour sack towels)
- Once dry, store in sealed glass containers in the refrigerator*
Do Not pre-wash mushrooms, or pasture raised eggs (eggs have a natural protection)
*Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature. Refrigerating them makes them mushy.
What I Use
Food:
Organic Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar by Braggs
Extra Virgin Olive Oil, first cold press by California Olive Ranch
Himalayan Sea Salt by HimalaSalt
Organic Tellicherry Pepper by Indus Organics
Organic Garlic by Traders Joe’s
Toscano Black Pepper Cheese by Traders Joe’s
Sustainably Grown Produce from the Farmers Market:
Fig Balsamic by Enfuso
Eggs by Gama Farms (farmers market), Vital Farms (store)
Lettuce Mixes by Maggie’s Farm
Cleaning:
Scour Off Heavy Duty Paste by Shaklee
Germ Off Disinfecting Wipes by Shaklee
Super Concentrated Home Soap by LifeTree
Equipment:
Knives:
Trimmer by Cutco
Petite Chef Knife by Cutco
Garlic Press: be sure it comes with a cleaning tool or one built-in
Salad Spinner by OXO
Mesh Garlic Bag, cleaned and repurposed as a non-stick scrubber
Organic Flour Sack Towels by Williams-Sonoma
Glass Storage by Pyrex, Anchor, Gelo, Glasslock…
Silicone Bowl Covers by Charles Viancin
Parchment Paper by If you Care
It is very cool that you save the seeds of your vegetables so that you can plant them in your backyard and have access to freshly grown produce right at home. It is also cool that you save the waste from the produce so that you can use it as compost. By using the waste as compost you are saving it from going to waste when we already have an excess of food waste. I definitely love that all the produce at the farmers market is freshly picked off the vine and have only been picked for a maximum of 2 days. Being able to consume produce that has definitely not been genetically modified is also a big plus considering how much gmo produce is out there now. I need to start grocery shopping at the farmer's market so I can know how a produce should truly taste like.
ReplyDeleteI agree, saving your seeds is cool! This idea of saving your seeds to start your own garden is affordable and rewarding at the same time. I plan on starting my own garden eventually, and I feel like this video was a good tool to help me make use of my harvest.
DeleteIt is useful to know how to talk to farmers at the market and ask them how they grow things. It is one step to go to the market, but many people may not know what to do from there and it can be overwhelming. Like Jane said, it is great that you save seeds for your garden. This can make shopping at the farmer's market more economical because it takes your food farther. I also noticed how you pointed out that the green tops on beets and radishes are a sign of freshness. I've found that not only are they fresher, but you can use the tops like you would other leafy vegetables. This is another way to avoid waste and get more for your dollar at the farmers market. Food waste is a big problem in America, where we waste up to 40% of food produced. Not only is that wasting food, but the water, time, travel, and other resources that went into producing that food. The composting step is also key. Even inedible parts of vegetables such as the stem or core can contribute to food waste if not disposed of properly. This is because food going into landfill does not use its full energy potential and contributes to carbon emissions. When you compost, it makes better use of all the resources and energy that went into producing that food. We could all be a little more mindful of what we are eating and farmer's market shopping is a good first step.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this particular video because knowing about farmers markets is important. A lot of people usually don't know where to go so this video can give them a guide of where to start. Pointing out the comparison between the farmers market and grocery store is great, viewers should know that the quality of freshness isn't the same. The taste is not the same for fruits and veggies from the grocery store because one they are older and don't have that fresh quality and two usually they have been genetically modified and harmful pesticides were used in growing them. It was awesome hearing that one of the growers used spice from the chilies they grow to keep the bugs away because that's great for our environment and body and its something that should be done everywhere.I loved your tip about washing the produce in vinegar and how it keeps it fresh longer because we've talked a lot about food waste in class and just like Jasmine said above we have learned that 40% of food produced is wasted and this is one way to contribute to helping it last longer and can prevent food waste.
ReplyDeleteDanielle Carter
DeleteWhile watching the Farm to Table Freshness episode, I really pondered the changes that we as a consumer can bring to our food system. The farmers at the market really go out of their way to bring about a product that is natural and healthy for us. Things such as produce that is free of pesticides and herbicides, and chickens that are fed a natural diet, can impact the environment in a big way. As stakeholders, we have the power to bring about big changes in our food systems if we consume the right products grown and/or made by responsible vendors, such as the ones at the farmer’s market. If we continue to support these vendors, it’s a win-win for the consumer and the sellers, since our palates will enjoy their products, and we will make their businesses profitable.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that you actually save the seeds to plant them later. That is such a neat idea that I'll try to practice at home while cooking. Additionally, using fresh produces from Farmers Market is a greatest source that you can find and treat yourself right. From my experience, nothing will taste better than a fruit or vegetables that got picked when they are vine-ripe. Not only that you treat your body with great nutrient sources - comparing to groceries' produces - but also getting the best taste from your favorite fruits and vegetables. Thank you for sharing the recipe and the information about Farmers Market.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find most important Henry is making sure to clean you produce when you get home to ensure their freshness lasts throughout the week maybe even sometimes longer, as Libby demonstrated its best to use vinegar and water and make sure to dry the produce before storing. I also agree people should save the seeds because they are such a great resource and can start a home garden which is such a great family project.
DeleteRight?? The seed saving idea is a great practice that schools and home growers can start learning and implementing. It not only saves a lot of money but you can also use the vegetable or fruit to its full potential. Including to that, hearing how one of the farmer say their vegetable was freshly picked a day ago shows that the plant is still fresh between one to 5 days old limit. The plant will still contain its nutrients unlike other produce which takes weeks to ship out and uses preservatives to make them appear fresh.
DeleteNot many people are aware of the benefits of shopping for produce at the farmers market. Purchasing your food from a local farmers market can ensure you are feeding your family the freshest food with the most nutrients to keep them healthy. Fruits and vegetables start losing their nutrients right away after being picked off the vine, and in the traditional grocery stores the produce is usually about five days old already, having all that time to lose nutrients in transportation. There is transparency in the food system when you purchase produce from the farmers market. Multiple questions you can ask the vendors about the food you are interested in purchasing. Questions about the seeds they used to grow the produce, how the produce was grown, with or with out chemical fertilizers and pesticides, if they are selling animal products how are the animals raised and what were they fed. In addition how long ago was the food harvested, was it harvested at its peak ripeness to ensure the best quality? Lastly you can ask the vendors about their food safety handling techniques. All of these questions will help you identify the food vendors that are growing with organic and sustainable farming techniques instead of the conventional farming we mostly see today that provides us most of the food we see in grocery store.
ReplyDeleteThis was written by Michelle Arellano
DeleteIt's such a great idea to use a plant to its fullest potential. Especially like the bell pepper example where you keep the seed to grow in back in the garden and use the stem as compost to give back to nature. All parts of the bell pepper will be used to its fullest potential and not wasted. Also, when I go shopping for food at farmer’s market, I never usually ask the farmers where the source is coming from. It was interesting hearing the farmers or workers from Farmer's Market explain their produce to you and telling how they grow the vegetables, what they feed their chickens, and when they harvest the crops. Including to that, I didn't know vinegar and chili were ingredients to keeping pest away from the plants without the use of pesticide. Seems like a great way to introduce to schools or home growers without the need of pesticides which can harm the environment. Another new DIY technique I learned from your video and recipe was the produce washing solution. This helps save a lot of water because I usually wash all the produce with the water turned on but now, I learned a new technique that helps with cleaning the food yet protects to the environment. Thank you for all these great advices!
ReplyDeleteCesar Rebolledo
ReplyDeleteThe episode was very informative. I learned that there is a difference between sustainably grown vegetables and vegetables that come from the regular farming systems. I remember when there was a trend for farm to table restaurants or ingredients. Now that I saw this episode I learned that in order to get the best out of this trend, you have to make sure that the vegetables are sustainably grown so you can benefit from all the natural nutrients it will have. This also goes with poultry as I learned in the video. Since the chickens were raised in a natural and sustainable way it allows the eggs to taste better and be more nutritious. I learned how to clean the produce, by making a vinegar solution you can clean the produce and in the process help them last in your fridge a lot longer. The important thing that I always forget is to make sure that what I am eating is colorful. By adding more color you can add more nutrients into your diet. Thank you for the helpful information!
Gustavo Portillo
ReplyDeleteI’m shocked to see how farmers markets are not as publicly recognized and accessible as grocery stores. I strongly believe that real nutritious fruits and vegetables are more important for human consumption than getting the most out of your wallet. Yes, grocery stores can be inexpensive at times compared to farmers markets however, what are consumers really putting their money in? It sure isn’t a healthy diet, I can tell you that. Just recently, I found out that I wasn’t really eating the healthiest egg, or the correct one. If it wasn’t for my Sustainable food system course, I wouldn’t have thought that a healthy egg yolk should be sun downed yellow and not bright sunny yellow. Even as a kid I seen books where eggs were depicted with bright yellow yolk. How are children going to know what the healthy food choices are if they’re not even being taught the more nutrient rich options.
This video is very helpful! I feel like so many people are not aware that buying sustainable produce is so important and beneficial for our daily lives. This video does a good job displaying where you should buy your produce and what kind of questions you can ask the vendors. I was never really aware that food markets existed and are a relying way of purchasing produce. I enjoyed that the video shows how to know that the produce is freshly picked and the vendors are knowledgeable and willing to share any information in what they are selling. That makes the vendors credible and trustworthy. In contrast to the supermarket where the vendors most likely do not know what they are selling. I have been volunteering with Food Forward collecting donations from the vendors at the Torrance and Long Beach Food Markets, and it has been such a great experience because I get to see how there are people buying sustainable produce and I am helping reduce food waste. I also heard from some of the food market vendors that they are starting to sell to some restaurants and that surprises me because it makes me happy that restaurants are also starting to make sustainable food. Another detail I found interesting was the fact that washing your fruits and vegetables with one part vinegar and two parts water is actually much more convenient since it gets rid of any non visible contaminants. This tip is very helpful and I will keep it in mind for future references. A tip that I thought was smart was that when making a salad it is nutrient dense to use fruits and vegetables that are different colors because that way you can make sure you are getting various nutrients. I liked that this video also shows how you can collect the seeds from produce to grow your own fruits and vegetables in your garden. Overall, I enjoyed this video and found it interesting! I now have shared this information to my family so they can start purchasing from food markets and not the super markets. -Jailane Lopez
ReplyDeleteThis topic stood out to me when choosing a video because I’m currently doing a volunteering service at a farm called Organic Harvest where I’m learning about the concept of farm to table. The farm to table concept is new to me as well as to many others. When it was first explained to me in class, I found it interesting but once I was on the farm seeing it all for myself, I was amazed. In the episode there is an interviewer who speaks on the topic of how they raise their chickens and what they feed them. The man speaking mentioned that depending on what they feed the chickens results in the color of the yolk. In my last service learning at the farm our instructor mentioned the same thing. He went to speak about how chickens lay a variety of colored eggs and how they are kept warm until they distribute them to the local restaurants. This concept first seemed strange since they do not store their eggs in a refrigerator and all the colored egg options. It was pointed out to me that it’s strange to others that we do the complete opposite. After having this conversation, a red flag appeared, and it made me realize that many of the practices we have been taught aren’t the natural way of doing them.
ReplyDelete-Desiree Lopez
Food safety is so important because paying attention to where bacteria can build up can prevent illness. After volunteering at two different farmer markets, I realized how much better it is for our health and for the environment finding produce that is grown sustainably is. Buying my produce, fruits, and vegetables from a farmers market ensures freshness, and I also know where it comes from. At farmer markets, only fruit and vegetables that are in season are available as it is all natural and organic. It is incredibly interesting to learn that the produce sold the following day was just harvested the day before. At the grocery store, vegetables and fruits would be five days old. Knowing what goes into your body and where that food is sourced from is essential to being as healthy as you can be. Over the past 50 years, the amount of nutrients that are in our food has depleted significantly. Now, for example, rather than eating just one peach, you must eat 50 to get the same amount of nutrients if you are buying from the conventional system. At a farmers market, you can be ensured that the vendors are not adding anything fake. It is way more transparent than shopping at grocery stores.
ReplyDeleteCooking food is important, but before doing all that, it is especially important to prepare the ingredients as cleanly as possible. Because the produce is bought at farmers markets, where farmers do not use chemical pesticide, the produce is prone to have more pests than produce at conventional grocery markets. In the past, I would use a vegetable soap wash to wash my produce, but after learning that vinegar is actually healthier and more effective than soap, I have made the change. It is important to practice food safety and sanitation when working in the kitchen. Whether it's at a restaurant kitchen or a kitchen at home, it is always important to wash your hands as well as the ingredients. Iris Ahn
ReplyDeleteI admire this article for the well-researched content and excellent wording. I got so involved in this material that I couldn’t stop reading. I am impressed with your work and skill. Thank you so much. electric salad spinner
ReplyDeleteYour welcome! We can change the food system one meal at a time!
DeleteErika Andersen
ReplyDeleteIt is so important to buy fresh organic food. Organic fruits and vegetables are free of genetically modified foods and chemicals. I love the idea of harvesting seeds to plant in the garden and using the water for compost to feed the garden. This ensures that nothing is going to waste. Farmers markets are a great way to buy organic farm fresh food. I also go to the Long Beach farmers market to get my produce and I love that the vendors know exactly where the food is from and can tell you all about it. It makes me feel safe from the food I am buying. The food at the farmers market also taste to much more fresh and have a lot more flavor. Just like showed in the video, farmers market fruits and vegetable are only 1-2 days old where as market fruits and vegetables are about 5 days old. Something I learned from the video is that organic eggs from chickens are mostly veggie fed. I always buy pasture raised eggs but I never truly knew what the difference was.
Melissa Tam
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed how the farmers were able to describe how they are able to sustainably grow and harvest these vegetables. I was unaware that there was a farmer’s market in Long Beach and I might have to check out Marino Farmer’s Market after hearing about how passionate the farmers are about their produce. It is so cool to hear farmers were using natural ways to prevent pests such as chilis. I think the video showed a great way to repurpose food such as replanting the seed to grow more. I am actually not a huge fan of bottled dressing either because sometimes I don’t know what is in it. It was very helpful that this video demonstrated a simple way to make a salad dressing that only requires three simple ingredients that I always have on hand.
To me it was actually funny how Libby used water with soap because my family has been doing that for many generations so it feels good that me and my family has been conserving in some way. I was surprised how one farmer explained how he feeds his chicken crickets to get their omega and that the eggs come out sundown yellow vs sunny yellow which means that they have been feeding the chicken corn. Another interesting thing that I learned is that a farmer used chili he grows then adds to vinegar as a natural pesticide. It goes to show how you do not need these industrial pesticides when you can use natural ones and maybe come up with better versions that can be made industrial but will not hurt us eating it. With going to the farmers market we can pay the farmers directly instead of their being a middle man taking some profit off their hard work.
ReplyDeletewritten by Jonathan Abarca
DeleteI love going to my local farmer’s market and making those connections with the vendors. Buying produce from the farmer’s markets has an array of benefits and knowing how the food was harvested and grown sustainably is amazing. I have never thought to take out the seeds and grow them in the backyard and use the excess for compost, which is such a great idea. My family has always washed our produce with water and vinegar and I have continued to do it as well. I also go to the Long Beach farmer’s market as well to buy food. Buying produce that is sustainably harvested and grown and does not use chemical fertilizers and pesticides is crucial. The salad that was made in the video looked delicious, especially the yellow bell pepper. I also found it interesting that the salad spinner is a great piece of equipment to utilize when washing the salad and get the excess water off. As well as farmers market produce are roughly one to two days old whereas grocery stores are about five days old.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the farm to table freshness it made me realize that every time I shop from a farmers market it makes me happy because I know I’m supporting local vendors who take their time to grow high quality produce and vegetables. I don’t mean to sound dramatic but you can taste the freshness when you compare it to grocery store vegetables and produce. There is also a lot more that the vendors offer than you don’t get at other grocery stores. If you shop what is in season that means there are less resources being used but if you don’t and your shopping from a grocery store, that means that it had to transport from who knows where because that product was not grown locally. Composting is also great habit to get into while in the kitchen because you’ll start to notice how much you actually waste. If anyone knows of any great local farmers market in OC with great selection let me know! I’d appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteI like how this video is so informative! It is really nice to see that the farmers market sells freshly picked produce that is not genetically modified, also how they use organic pesticides such as chilis and vinegar to protect the produce from the pests instead of pesticides. Nowadays it is really important for us to know where the food is grown and how it is harvested. Organic produce sold at the farmers market are usually planted in soil that is rich in minerals and grown using organic fertilizers to maintain its nutrients. They are also locally picked and transported to maintain the freshness compared to industrial grown produce.
ReplyDeleteThe Farm to Table Freshness section was absolutely fun to watch not to mention extremely informative! The vinegar solution is such an eco-friendly yet traditional way of cleaning/sanitizing not only foods but also counters, sinks, etc. As a Long Beach local, I loved the transition from kitchen to the actual farmers market because farmer markets are a great way to enjoy the fresh air, support your local community, and overall shop green; with most fruits and vegetables coming from GMO & pesticide free regional farms.
ReplyDelete-Isai Soliz HM 370
I watched several episodes, and I thought the "First Episode! Salad Dressing and Produce Washing" video was very informative and interesting. I heard the term "Farm to table" a lot, but I thought practicing farm to table would be challenging, but she made it look easy. Also, I have never been to Marina Farmer's market, but all the fresh products/ vegetables seemed so fresh in this clip. I loved how she well engaged and communicated with small local farmers and supported them. Alex, the Chicken farmer was very knowledgeable, and he cared about sustainable chicken farming. The interview of Bryan from Maggie's farm was so impressive, too. They used organic pesticides, which is made of vinegar and chillies. I also found out that the way she handled food was very sanitary and knowledgeable, and I can't wait to try her salad recipe. It looks so fresh and healthy!
ReplyDeleteThe farm to table freshness video was really cool to watch. It was very informative and helped me learn what questions I need to ask and what things I need to look for while shopping at a farmers market. The video also made the farmers market seem like lots of fun. Usually when I go shopping it seems like a chore but I feel like going to the farmers market would be a fun activity which is great for me since I'll start looking forward to going out and buying healthier food. After reading the article about pesticide soup I became curious about what farmers are putting into their animals bodies. In the farm to table video a guy explains what he fed his chickens and how much healthier and more natural his feeding method is compared to big companies. He explained the difference in yolk color and it answered my question which was if I’d be able to find healthier options at a farmers market. While learning about the food freshness I thought about how old the food actually is from the store to our house to our meal. Just because i buy the veggies on that day doesn't mean I'll use them all on that day. This opened my eyes to the benefits of freshly picked food, buying it at farmers markets ensures the freshest food I can get in turn giving me the most nutrients with all my meals since its a couple days old in comparison to a week + depending on when I decide to cook it. All in All this video showed me the benefits of eating fresher food and even showed me ways to clean the seeds so that i can plant my own.
ReplyDeleteBella Pena HM370
This video really caught my attention because I love going to farmer's markets! However, this video really opened my eyes to the importance behind these markets because of the freshness and nutrition-dense the foods sold here are compared to local supermarkets. I really enjoyed the part where Libby went around interviewing the sellers because it gives me the right to allow myself to ask questions about where the food I buy is coming from. Not only that, but I learned the significance on planting only seasonal fruits and veggies and how adapting to this sort of agriculture can really help us have more variety and further ourselves away from only planting high value staple crops. However, I also found informative the bits where Libby introduced us to other factors such as saving the seeds from produce for planting, washing the produce with 3:1 water and vinegar before use, and involving produce within the colors of the rainbow to consume the necessary nutrients. Overall, I loved this video and helped me expand my mindset when it comes to what I put inside my body.
ReplyDeleteJennie Jimenez
ReplyDeleteI found your first episode very informative. Besides learning the detailed recipe for salad dressing, I also gain knowledge of washing fresh produce properly to rinse away invisible soil, microbes, and pesticides which can cause foodborne illnesses. I do not often buy my grocery at farmer markets, but your blog definitely gives me reasons to change the way I shop for better and more sustainable ingredients. Homegrown produce sold at farmer markets is sold directly to consumers; therefore, I can connect with local farmers to ask about how they grow their products. This is a great way to learn about organic farming, natural food production, and know where my food comes from. Shopping at the farmer markets also allows me to support sustainable food systems and build a healthier diet with fresh and seasonal produce. Your blog also suggests a great idea to promote genetic diversity and produce a continual supply by growing seed from your vegetables. There is one common myth around buying food from farmer markets is that it is more expensive than grocery markets, so I wonder if this myth is true or if there are ways to save money when shopping at the farmer market.
Maddie Lamb | HM 370 | Episode one “Farm to Table Freshness”
ReplyDeleteThis episode was very imformational, and enlightening on the positives of “Farm to Table Freshness”. The most important factor for farm to table to reap the best benefits is ensuring the produce is picked vine ripe. As mentioned many times throughout the video, vine ripe produce is typically only going to be found at your local farmers market or wherever a farmer is selling their produce. It seems as though the farmers market is at an advantage as you can ask the growers directly how long ago they have been picked. Through this episode I learned that the peak time to consume the produce is 1-2 days after it has been harvested. If we chose to purchase from the grocery store, the average time frame starts at about 5 days past it’s harvest, if not longer. At my university, I learned that the less time the produce needs to travel, the later it can be picked, leading to more nutrient dense produce. With more time on the vine, it is generating more nutrients than it would if it was picked earlier. For just this reason alone, shopping at the Farmer’s Market is already a very beneficial option. Not only do many growers at the Farmer’s Market sell produce that is picked vine ripe, they also seem to take great pride in their products which have no chemical fertilizers or pesticides and raise their chickens more organically.
In regards to the fresh salad recipe shown in the episode, I gained a few valuable takeaways as well. I was unaware of the fact that you should completely dry produce after washing, and then store with a tight seal container, as this allows the produce to last a little longer in the fridge. It was also mentioned that it is not nessecary to memorize all of the names of the nutrients that our produce provides, and instead you can base it off of color. The various colors of foods such as carrots, bellpeppers, onion, cucumbers etc, allow for various different nutrients to be incorporated in the dish. This is an easy way to ensure you are getting enough nutrients in your meals. A salad is definitey an easy way to do so! Also, for added protein you can add sunflower seeds to your salad, which I was unaware of. After doing a quick google search, I realized that they are high in protein and rich in healthy fats. There are plenty of ways to create a healthy meal with fresh organic produce while also ensuring you are creating a well balanced meal with all of the right nutrients.
It surprises me that we have a local farmers market but a lot of people still go to regular stores. We know that in store the eggs from the chicken we get may have not eaten the best foods. This is an important thing to look at since chickens like these tend to produce eggs with brighter egg yolks. This could be because they were given corn or grains not good for the chicken in order to get a brighter yellow yolk. If we were to look at the chickens that are pasture raised we can see the difference in yolk. These yolks tend to be a bit lighter but are being fed the right way and given the proper space they need. I have gone to the farmers market a couple of times but I should start to go more often since they have the best and freshest produce. A question I had was what would happen if at least every family started a small garden in their backyard? Would we see a decline in the amount of people at the stores? Would this promote people to go to farmers markets often? ~ Luis Cuevas
ReplyDeleteIt was an extremely educational episode. I discovered that veggies cultivated responsibly differ from those originating from conventional farming methods. The advantages of buying produce at a farmers market are not widely known. You can be confident you're giving your family the freshest, healthiest food possible by buying from your neighborhood farmers market. Fruits and vegetables lose their nutritional value over time as they oxidize, and food from farmers markets usually travels from the field to the store shelf in less than a day. On the other hand, fruits and vegetables from the grocery store may take considerably longer to reach the shelves, particularly if they are farmed far away. It's likely that foods that are out of season have chemicals to keep them fresh for extended periods of time. It truly amazes me that you save the seeds to plant at a later time. I'll try to put that great notion into practice when I'm cooking at home. My mom is big on saving seeds from fruits and plants them afterward and I used to thing it is a waste of time growing up but now I realized how amazing it is, not only we could utilize everything from the fruit/produce but we could also grow our own. I had no idea that using vinegar and chile as components may deter pests from damaging plants without resorting to pesticides, learning something new everyday! The produce washing solution was another new do-it-yourself method I discovered from your video and recipe. This conserves a lot of water because I used to wash every vegetable with the water running and salt, but I recently discovered a new method that not only cleans food but also preserves the environment. I appreciate all of your wonderful suggestions.
ReplyDeleteI love the salad recipe by the way, will try it out for sure!
Tuong Nguyen HM370
Hi Libby,
ReplyDeleteThis episode was really informative. We all hear about how we are what we eat or to make a rainbow on our plate, but we have never learned how to do so. At least not until this video, where you are very practical in your advice on how to shop for produce from local farmers, specifically how we can ensure the products are truly organic and sustainably produced by asking the questions you pose. I also really appreciated the tips on storing seeds for your garden because I am starting to get into growing veggies from the balcony of my apartment.
This episode's content reminded me about the environmental life cycle assessment, where we take inventory of the material and energy
inputs invested into a crop while tracking the emissions associated with each growth, cultivation, and delivery stage. By truly being curious about how our product came to be, we create a traceability factor that ensures sustainable practices are set in place.
-Fabiana Paredes
The "Farm to Table Freshness" video was a real eye-opener for me. I had always thought that buying produce from grocery stores was perfectly fine, but after watching this video I now know that locally sourced, vine-ripe fruits and veggies are the way to go.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't really given much thought to the importance of knowing where my food comes from and how it was produced. Supporting local farmers and picking fresher produce is much healthier and better. It's amazing to see just how much difference there is between the taste and nutritional value of produce from farmers' markets versus those in grocery stores. As well as how scary it is to know that I've been eating so many toxins and pesticides while thinking I was eating healthy.
The tips on how to properly wash and store produce is very useful, which I'll be sure to put into practice. The idea of saving seeds for future planting is smart and sustainable.
I enjoyed this video especially since it shows how important it is to live a healthier more sustainable lifestyle.
Are certain fruits and vegetables more susceptible to having pesticides and toxins or is it all similar?
- Riley Catino
The episode I watched how Libby show casted how to incorporate homemade elements into your meals like a homemade sauce instead of a store-bought bottle. Incorporating farm fresh ingredients into your meals enhances the taste and adds color to your food plate to ensure we are consuming all the right nutrients. Farmers market is a great way to purchase locally grown vegetables that are pesticide- free with farm raised animals. I did not think of incorporating self-made products like making homemade ranch or ketchup can change and eliminate the habit of buying store bought bottles that will not be recycled for reuse. Another element towards what I watched was the no plastic use and instead using reusable items like a tote bag to carry produce over a plastic bag. Overall, there are easy ways to eliminate plastic out of our grocery runs and turning more towards using produce to add more color towards our plates to increase nutrient consumption.
ReplyDeleteAs a busy college student, I'll admit my eating habits aren't always the healthiest. Between classes, activities, and work, I tend to go for convenient options rather than worrying about where my food comes from. But after watching Libby Gustin's latest episode on "Farm to Table Freshness," I've been inspired to make some changes.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest eye-openers for me was learning just how long it takes for produce to get from the farm to my plate when I buy from regular grocery stores. Libby explained that stuff is often 5 days old or more by that point! No wonder fruits and veggies sometimes taste lackluster or go bad so quickly in my fridge.
Seeing the vibrant, just-picked produce Libby got straight from local farmers at the market was such a contrast. You could really tell how fresh and nutrient-packed it was. Her tips for preserving that freshness at home were great too - like washing produce in a vinegar solution and storing in sealed glass containers.
I was also amazed by how simple and delicious Libby's homemade salad dressing looked. Just some olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and boom - way better than bottled dressings with tons of additives. Making my own dressings and sauces seems like an easy way to start cleaning up my diet.
The biggest obstacle I can see to eating this way in college is simply making the time for it. Sourcing local ingredients, washing/prepping produce, and cooking from scratch takes planning and effort that doesn't always fit my hectic schedule. But I'd be lying if I said I couldn't make it more of a priority.
Maybe I'll start small by hitting up farmer's markets on weekends to stock up for the week ahead. Or do some batch meal prepping when I can. Because eating fresh, sustainably-grown foods is so important for my health and the environment. If any other students have tips for pulling this off, let me know! Thanks Libby for the motivation to start improving my habits.