The New Oxford American Dictionary  2007 Word of the Year
is.........  
Locavore.
A locavore is an individual choosing to consume—exclusively—
food that has either been grown, farmed, or produced locally.

WHY BUY LOCAL FOOD?
  • Locally grown food taste better.  It’s fresh, crisp, and
    loaded with       flavor!  On average the distance food
    travels from farm to plate is 1,500 miles. With that long
    delay sugars turn to starches, cells shrink, and produce  
    loses its vitality.
  • Locally grown food is better for you.  Fresher food
    retains its nutrients!
  • Local food preserves genetic diversity.  In the industrial
    agriculture system varieties are chosen for their ability
    to ripen simultaneously, withstand harvesting
    equipment, and have a long shelf life.  Limiting
    selection.  Local farms grow a huge variety for a long
    season, an array of different colors, and the best flavor.  
    Many varieties are heirlooms and contain genetic
    material from hundreds or even thousands of years
    ago.          
  • Local food supports local farm families.  Farmers are a
    vanishing breed.  Commodity prices are often below the
    cost of production.  The farmer now gets less than 10
    cents of the retail food dollar.  Local farmers who sell
    direct to the public cut out the middle man and get a
    better         price, while often selling at below retail
    prices.
  • Local food builds community.  When buying direct from
    the farmer, you are re-establishing a time-honored
    connection between the eater         and the grower.  
    Relationships built on understanding and trust can thrive.
  • Local food preserves open space.  As the value of direct-
    marketed fruits and vegetables increase selling farm
    land for development is less likely.  When you buy direct
    from the farmer your doing something proactive about
    preserving the agriculture landscape and containing
    urban sprawl.
  • Local food keeps your taxes lower.  Farms contribute
    more in taxes than they require in services, whereas
    suburban development is the opposite.  On average for
    every $1 in revenue raised by residential development,
    governments must spend $1.17 on services.  For each
    dollar of revenue raised by farm, forest, or open space,
    governments spend 34 cents on services.   
  • Local food supports a clean environment and benefits
    wild life.  Good stewards of the land grow cover crops to
    prevent erosion and replace nutrients use day their
    crops.  Cover crops also capture carbon emissions and
    help combat global warming.  According to some
    estimates, farmers who practice conservation tillage
    could sequester 12-14% of the carbon emitted by
    vehicles and industry.  In addition, the habitat of a farm
    is the perfect environment for many beloved species of
    wildlife.
  • Local food is about the future.  By supporting local
    farmers today, you can ensure that there will be farms in
    your community providing future generations access to
    nourishing and flavorful food.
Recipes
Simply Sweet Spinach Salad
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 tsp. white vinegar
3 to 5  tsp. sugar
1/4 tsp. celery salt
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. pepper
4 cups fresh spinach
1 small red apple

Whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar,
celery salt, and pepper.  Let stand.  In a salad bowl,
combine torn spinach and sliced unpeeled apple.
Drizzle  dressing over spinach and apples and
gently toss to coat.  
Serves 4  
Cucumbers with a kick!
2 medium cucumbers
2 Tbsp. white vinegar
2 Tbsp. sesame oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soy sauce
1 tbsp. sugar
1 jalopeno pepper

Peel cucumbers, cut lengthwise in two, and scrape
out seeds.  Slice cucumbers into half moon slices.  
Whisk remaining ingredients together and toss
with cucumbers to coat them.  For really hot salad
use complete pepper or for milder use just a couple
small slices with seeds removed.  Adjust to your
taste.
Deep Fried Okra
Even okra haters will love!)
1 pound fresh okra
2 eggs, beaten
4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce (optional)
1 cup cornmeal
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper or ground cayenne pepper
(optional)
oil for deep frying

Wash okra and drain well; cut off ends and discard.
Cut okra crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. In a bowl,
combine beaten eggs and hot sauce; add okra and
stir to coat all pieces well. In a shallow dish,
combine cornmeal, salt and pepper. Dip okra pieces
into cornmeal mixture to coat well. Heat oil in the
deep fryer to 375°. Fry okra in batches until
browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch.
Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
Serves 4.
Grandma's Best Beans

6 Bacon strips
2 Large sweet onions, cut into 1/2" wedges
2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
4 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
salt and pepper to taste

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat
until crisp.  Remove bacon and drain saving 2
tablespoons of drippings.  Crumble bacon and set
aside.  In the drippings cook onions over
medium-low heat until tender and golden brown.  
cover with water;bring to boil.  Cook uncovered
until cover with water;bring to boil.  Cook
uncovered until crisp-tender ( 8-10 min.) Drain.  Stir
vinegar and brown sugar into onions then add
beans.  Cook for 1-2 minutes add crumbled bacon.  
Season with salt and pepper.
Chocolate Beet Cake
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
3 large eggs, beaten
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups grated cooked beets
2 teaspoons vanilla
powdered sugar, optional

Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine flour, soda, salt, sugar and cocoa in a bowl; set
aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the eggs and oil. Beat in
vanilla and continue beating until well blended. Slowly
beat in dry ingredients until well mixed; stir in beets. Pour
into a greased and floured 9x13 inch baking pan. Bake at
350° for 25 to 35 minutes, or until cake bounces back
when touched lightly with finger.

Cool in pan on a rack. Frost cooled cake or dust with
powdered sugar.
Zucchini Recipe from the Wildeys
1 pound zucchini (about 4 small)
1 can (12 ounces) corn, drained or
Fresh
2 medium cloves garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons salad oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

In a large skillet, stir together all ingredients except cheese.  Cover; cook over
medium heat, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes or until squash is
crisp-tender.  Stir in cheese or sprinkle on top; heat through.  
4-6 Servings
Farm Fresh   
All Year!
Chocolate Zucchini Bread  (Market Favorite!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl combine 3 eggs, 2 cups
sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil, and 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract.  Mix until well
blended.  In a small sauce pan melt 2 TB butter, then add 6 TB. cocoa powder
and blend together until smooth.  Grate 2 cups of fresh zucchini.  Add zucchini
and cooled cocoa mixture to the large mixing bowl and blend well.  In a
separate bowl mix 2 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. salt and 1 1/2 tsp.
cinnamon.  Add dry ingredients to batter.  Do not over mix.  In another bowl
coat 2/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips with 2 tsp. flour, then add to batter.
 Spoon batter into 2  well greased and floured 9X5X3 loaf pans.  Bake for 60-70
min. or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.  Cool in pans 5-10
minutes.  Then remove from pans and continue to cool on wire rack.
**Freezes well!  Let cool completely (important!), wrap in
saran wrap, and put in freezer bag.  Enjoy all winter!
Shannon's Favorite Spaghetti
1 medium to large spaghetti squash                        
1 pound lean ground beef                                
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 ½ tablespoons Italian seasoning
1 ½ cup mozzarella cheese                                
½ cup parmesan cheese                                 
1 jar spaghetti or tomato sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds and pulp; set aside.  
Brown ground beef until done.  Drain fat, rinse with hot water if desired.  In a
bowl add cooked burger and mix with 1 cup mozzarella and parmesan cheese
while hot (this will help burger stick together) then add seasonings.  Place
squash cut side up on cookie sheet; stuff cavity with meat mixture, and cover
with foil.  Place in oven at 375 degrees for 1 to 1 ½ hours until tender.  
Uncover, top squash with sauce, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.  Place
back in oven about 5 minutes until sauce is heated and cheese is melted.  Let
stand 5 minutes.  Serves 4-6.

(Notes:  This works great with zucchini also, just reduce cooking time.
Experiment with different spices and amounts.  I usually put this together
with out measuring, tasting as I go.)
PREGITZER FARM MARKET, LLC
"Like your own garden without the work!"
6870 Territorial Rd., Munith, MI  49259  
(517) 769-2768
yourfarmmarket.com  
email shannon@yourfarmmarket.com