Farmer's Markets: A must for any chef

Food and cooking sections are a large part of almost every major newspaper, covering topics like recipes, food trends, restaurant reviews and new ways to eat healthy without breaking the bank. One way to do the last thing I mentioned is by shopping locally at farmer's markets. Not only is the food fresh and of the highest quality, but buying locally is also supporting local farmers and is generally less expensive than the average grocery store. An unlikely time of the year, winter, is proving to be successful for local farmers, showing that consumers want fresh and organic produce all year long.

One North Carolina news station posted a story showing how winter markets offer a variety of fresh ingredients. For Corvallis residents who are looking to buy their produce fresh, there is the Corvallis Indoor Winter Farmer’s Market on Saturdays until March 27, which offers customers fresh and local ingredients, like delicata squash, which was birthed at OSU and also featured in The Oregonian’s Food Day 100 Thing’s List for 2011. Delicata squash is so easy to cook that, guaranteed, it will become your new favorite vegetable to sauté alongside a weeknight dinner. With just a little butter and brown sugar, the flavor is enhanced and is a tasty side dish that will have guests wondering where this delicious vegetable came from. Only you will know that it cost $1.14 at your local farmer’s market.

Delicata Squash, a fun ingredient to pick up the farmer's market

If you are looking for updates on the produce available at the Corvallis Indoor Farmer’s Market, you can follow them on Facebook for posts on what is available from the garden as well as what baked goods will be there to taunt you with its delicious aroma.

Media outlets from all over the country are starting to notice the trend in fresh ingredients from local farmers and just because it is winter, it doesn’t mean that home chefs are staying home rather than braving a few rain drops or snow to get the ingredients that will make the difference in home cooked meals.