photos: kelly huntJuly is such a fabulous time for a locavore. There are so many delicious things popping out of the ground, or in the case of cherries, growing on trees! Middle of July and into August truly is the best time to eat local, my only sadness is the departure of the June strawberry. That said, we were extremely lucky this year with weather and the strawberry season was longer than usual, in fact, you can still get them (only until Saturday at noon) at Heemans. My little strawberry depression does not linger long in the summer, as the arrival of the cherry is close on its tail and here to save the day!
Unfortunately you won't find a farm surrounding the London area that is growing cherries.. well..I do not believe so anyways.. I do not know absolutely for sure, but what I do know is that my new found local food knowledge tells me that the Ontario cherry is mostly grown around the lakeside area, specifically around the great lakes, where the land heats up a bit more and they get the right conditions for growing this perfect little fruit. That means that most of our Ontario cherries come to us from the Niagara region.
Good news, the Niagara belt is still well within our 100 miles (if you are a die hard 100 mile diet fan). More good news, your local farm that you may have found to shop at, will usually bring fresh cherries in from a Niagara producer and our farmers markets definitely have them. Although the grocery store is the last place I look for local food in the summer, you can be sure that they will even stock them - just make sure to look for the Foodland Ontario label above the big red piles.
I don't think cats eat fruit, but Mister Blue sure did like to push them around!
Some very short facts and 'pits' of interest:
- The cherry is a drupe, not a dope.. but a drupe. That just means that it is a fleshy fruit containing a hard pit.
- The cherry is from the Rosaceae family. This means that the lovely cherry is brother and sister with almonds, peaches, plums and apricots.
- Cherries Jubilee was in theory invented for Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee in 1887 celebrations by Georges-Auguste Escoffier.
- The Cherry jubilee became very popular in the fifties and sixties... and even made it's way into women's fashions! I don't think the zucchini has done that yet.
- It turns out, cherries are good for you!
You amaze me! Seriously. Ok, I heard a rumor. Farmer Jacks, in Lambeth - has now gone organic!!!! Great news for people looking for organic apple picking. I also heard that they will not be doing you pick this year as they are removing a bunch of trees because they were too badly chemical damaged! WHOHOO organic LOCAL apples.
hmm farmer jacks.. I have to get there.. are they only apples? thanks for the tip tbone :)
LOVE the cherry prints on dresses (you knew it), but there are people taking it to the next level... crazy, crazy, veggie-loving people...
http://www.dressaday.com/2007/12/post-fundraising-drabble-1.html
http://www.dressaday.com/2006/05/dress-to-wear-in-ones-salad-days.html
well maybe the my post is wrong.. maybe the zucchini print IS just around the corner. oh my yams. lol