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The Food Issue
2016
Grains
West
30
Although the pickings during the
winter are decidedly slim, there are
still options for people who want to
eat seasonally as much as possible.
Thankfully, Albertans live in a province
that is renowned for its livestock and crop
production, so fresh beef, pork, poultry
and other meats, as well as a number of
grains and pulses that retain their flavour
and health benefits in storage, are “in
season” and available year-round. But if
you are set on eating Alberta-grown fruits
and vegetables in
the dead of winter,
the key is to plan far
enough ahead.
“It could be
as simple as
learning how to
can, or freezing
certain things,
even if it’s just
blanching a bunch
of cauliflower
or broccoli or
asparagus, then
freezing it and keeping it in your freezer
for the wintertime,” Tsui said. “When
you’re talking about the winter months,
you want to look for the heartier greens
like cabbages and kale that are not as
nice and tender as those spring greens,
but definitely a more seasonal choice.”
In terms of spotting what’s in season at
your average grocery store, it’s easier than
you might think.
“The truth is, if you look around your
grocery store, the market tells you pretty
much what is seasonal and what is
imported,” von Massow said. “You can
see what’s in season just by the price
of what it is at the
grocery store or
farmers market or
wherever you’re
buying it.”
In addition to
the market forces
that can reveal
what is in season,
many grocery
chains have started
to highlight local
meat and produce,
as well as the
farmers who raise the animals and
grow the crops. “I think there are lots
of local grocery stores . . . who are on
board with promoting local farmers and
producers,” Tsui said.
The websites of the Co-op and Sobeys
grocery chains appear to confirm this
perception. “Our focus has always been
having the freshest produce, including
local, western and Canada-wide
growers, whenever possible,” Calgary
Co-op’s produce page reads. “We
ensure that seasonal produce is available
and that it is imported based on quality,
freshness, and availability.”
Similarly, Sobeys’ produce department
uses the tagline, “more in freshness,
more in season, more in local.” The
company’s website also prominently
lists seasonal recommendations on its
produce page.
At the farmer’s market, Olynik said the
best way to find out what is in season is
to go straight to the source: the farmers
themselves.
“People have the opportunity to come
in and learn about where their produce
or meat or whatever items they are
purchasing are coming from,” she said.
“I think being able to ask those questions
is a rare and really special opportunity for
people.”
“If you look around your
grocery store, the market
tells you pretty much
what is seasonal and what
is imported.”
–Mike von Massow
GROCERY RUN:
When you’re at your local grocery store—whether it’s a Sobeys, Co-op or Costco—the
market will often reveal what’s in season based on how much produce items cost. Photo: Shutterstock.