The hipster movement caught a lot of flack for many reasons, beards being among the most notable. However, one thing that this generation has brought forth is a surge in demand for farm-to-table foods. Organic food is now in the greatest demand because we’ve found that eating healthy, fresh foods that are untainted with toxins is the best way to stay disease-free and live longer, more healthful lives.
Years ago, before all these pesticides came about, our grandparents and great grandparents (and the generations before them too) all had the blissful benefits of eating heirloom fruits and vegetables. Only it wasn’t a choice for them. Refrigeration and transportation wasn’t what it is today and that meant you had to eat what was locally grown. Heirloom produce is non-industrial, and as the demand for these originals from the days of old sprouts up, you’ll be seeing more and more of them.
Why try them? Because they are better-tasting, they contain more nutrients naturally, and they aren’t genetically modified. While organics are indeed a good choice, if you can find heirloom fruits and vegetables, you’ve got to taste them. Heirloom seeds have never been changed. They were created by open pollination which means they were planted and left for nature to do as intended.
Another interesting thing about heirloom varieties is that since they are unchanged from the early days of harvesting, you could be growing the same plant that one of our forefathers grew 50 to 100 years ago, or even longer. When you taste heirloom plants, you realize just how delicious fresh-picked produce can be. Our crops have been grown for years with less nutrients, leaving them tasting a bit bland. No wonder kids today nearly go to war at the dinner table when you put a piece of broccoli on their plate!
It’s hard to find heirloom produce at the supermarket because these original species were meant to be picked ripe and eaten immediately. They weren’t engineered to sit on the shelves of supermarkets after being transported hundreds, even thousands of miles. You can always grow your own heirloom fruits and vegetables at home, but if you have a brown thumb, just head to your local farmer’s market to find them. Community-supported agricultural membership groups are another source for finding them.
Though once you do find heirloom produce, be sure to taste it first to see the differences in flavors before cooking them into your favorite recipes. You’ll likely notice that when fruits and vegetables are this fresh and delicious, you really need to do very little to them to make your meals amazing.