Putting variety in our diets

I wonder how many families can truthfully say they enjoy more than 15 varieties of fruits and vegetables in their diet each month!  How many can say they eat more than 10 even? 

Variety is supposed to be good for you, it ensures that you don't eat too much of any one thing which could lead to illnesses and deficiencies.  I hear all the time - I ALWAYS serve at least two vegetables with dinner!  That's great, but is it enough when those two vegetables are a choice of peas, carrots, beans, broccoli or squash? 

Years ago, bored with off-the-shelf produce items, families' choices started to lean toward the exotic:  avocados, olives, kiwi fruit, star fruit, mangoes.  Now thanks to our wonderful infrastructure of roads, airports, rails, and shipping lanes - not to mention loads of carbon fuels, these produce items have become more main-stream.  As we accept the environmental cost of these choices the new trend seems to be to go back to grass roots and eat local.  But perhaps we just need to realize that variety is wonderful, and we don't have to go overseas to get it.  Years ago Indians survived on over 11,000 plant species, I read that somewhere, however today 80% of agriculture comprises of just 10 crops, maize being the front-runner.

So how do we get variety and eat local?  Well, Berkshire Organics has an answer.  They put together a box of fresh locally sourced produce for delivery to residents and they offer the option to make substitutions.  But I rather like the approach of get your box, and cook with what's in it - like some reality TV show!  Since they don't service our area, we, my family and I in partnership with Berkshire Organics, are embarking on a journey to offer local residents this service!  We start December 1st and I have to say, it is somewhat scary, exhilarating and exciting all at the same time. 

We have so many hopes for this new venture, mostly we want it to become a value add to the community, connecting people to their food and the farmers that grow it, but also, I hope families are up to the challenge of eating healthier fresh food, and also up to the challenge of making meals out of what is in their boxes.  Crop rotations and smaller farms mean that almost anything is possible, so I want to say go ahead and substitute if you must but really, is there no way you can prepare the offending item in a way that you could find palatable?  Let's look to the land for what is fresh and in season, and let’s find a way to bring it to our dinner tables with flair and gratitude for the harvest.

So, here we go, on a live-green-eat-fresh rollercoaster ride for sure, and here's to bringing back the obscure parsnips, and celebrating kale - a timeless staple, let's eat blushing beets and devour voluptuous eggplants.  Join us, step out of your comfort zone and bring excitement back to the words: dinner is served!