Thursday, September 02, 2010 by Lee Mannering
In sharing the summer’s bounty, taste is everything
The summer months at PMA mean many things, from vacations to the Foodservice Conference to getting ready for Fresh Summit. For me, it also means I become the unofficial distribution arm of my Dad’s annual vegetable garden.
I’m not quite sure how big the garden is, but for one person, the harvest is a lot more than he can consume. He could easily plant a smaller garden, but he’s used to the size of his plot and all the work that goes with it.
After sharing excess vegetables (usually tomatoes and cucumbers, sometimes bell peppers) with his neighbors and people from church, Dad usually brings one to three reusable plastic trays filled to the brim with produce to my house. My wife and I will select some vegetables for ourselves and then share some with our neighbors and friends. The rest goes with me to the PMA office.
The free veggies don’t last very long, as co-workers pick them for sandwiches, salads, and other dishes. One recurring comment I get (particularly from friends and relatives who don’t understand exactly what I do for a living) is how flavorful Dad’s produce is – which is only off the vine for a day or so at most. Some also comment that this time of year store-bought produce doesn’t compare to those same items direct from the garden, adding that is because the produce is picked too soon; it travels too far; etc. If our industry is to increase produce consumption, shouldn’t we be striving to give consumers the most flavorful experience with every bite?
Of course, we know that some local varieties wouldn’t make it commercially – they might not travel or store well enough. And we know that consumers – even friends and family – believe some of the myths or urban legends about how our industry operates. And, sometimes, they have a point.
Sadly, for some folks I know, having to wait for a three- to four-month window for a garden-ripe tomato or cucumber is worth it. It shouldn’t have to be, but it is. Luckily, my Dad has quite a few of them covered through the Lake Drive vegetable deal.
