Think Locavore and More

The bounty of the Walla Walla Farmers' Market                   © Diane B. Reed

 Every time I pass a field of Walla Walla sweet onions, my mouth begins to water in anticipation. I found a recipe for sweet onion pie at www.sweetonions.org  that’s to die for! What could be better than a recipe prepared with fresh seasonal ingredients that come from the Valley? The answer is, not much. Yet because produce is available year round, we’ve become used to paying the price for out-of-season fruits and vegetables from distant places instead of tailoring our menus to use the produce that’s in season right here in the Valley. Have you ever noticed that during the season you can buy blueberries in large quantities for a remarkably reasonable price? A month later, the same money buys a paltry few.  

Local honey at the Farmers' Market       © Diane B. Reed

The Walla Walla Valley Farmers’ Market is a cornucopia of seasonal produce, not to mention cheese, honey, breads and much more. I love the heirloom and hard-to-find vegetables and fruits, goat cheese, honey and organic produce. The market also offers plants, crafts, artwork, garden art, fun stuff for kids to do and some of the finest music in the area. There’s something wonderful going on every Saturday and Sunday. You can check out the schedule and vendors at www.gowallawallafarmersmarket.com. And don’t forget our local coop, the Daily Market Cooperative, Klicker’sStrawberry Acres, and all the local farm stands that sprout up during the summer.

heirloom beans                                        © Diane B. Reed

I’ve been reading a bit about the locavore movement recently and it makes me realize how lucky we are to live in a place with such bounty. Fruits, vegetables, meat, wine, art, music, theater . . . Yes, art, music, wine and theater! I firmly believe that being a locavore should include supporting local artists, opting for Walla Walla Valley wines, enjoying the myriad of local events and shopping at local stores.

Kids enjoy the Farmers' Market        © Diane B. Reed

If you want real customer service, you can’t beat local businesses. When I’m struggling with an appropriate gift for a one-year-old, I know that Inland Octopus can suggest what I need. My nephew likes music that escapes me, so I head off to Hot Poop where they’ll know what he’d like. Then there’s grass-fed meats from Blue Valley Meats (successor to Thundering Hooves), yummy scones from John’s Wheatland Bakery, the fabulous lavash from Walla Walla Bread Company — it just goes on and on. Our world-class wineries offer wines for all pocketbooks and palates. And as we’ve learned from recent issues of Lifestyles, you don’t have to go to Seattle or Portland to find the perfect outfit or little black dress. 

We can take advantage of a terrific music scene, seasonal events and theater offerings that astonish (can’t wait for “Hairspray” this summer and more offerings from Shakespeare Walla Walla www.shakespeareuncorked.org). There are so many activities to choose from any given week that it’s hard to plan a trip out of town. All these activities are not only good for our local economy; they’re good for our Valley’s psyche. 

Keep in mind that whether it’s produce or plays, when we buy locally more of our money stays in the community. So it makes good sense to buy, experience and enjoy the bounty of our Valley while we support our local economy and culture. Think locavore and more!