There may be snow cover in other parts of the country but here in the Bay Area winter crops are still producing, and you can find lots of great fruit and veggies at farmers’ markets without too much trouble. For a list of farmers' markets in Contra Costa open in winter, check out this link.
What can you put in your basket now? Lots of things! For sustainable purposes, it’s always best to shop local, organic, and whatever’s in season. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Kale, the hipster foodie’s delight, is rich in vitamin A, calcium, iron, magnesium, and even protein. You can bake it, stir fry it, or add to soups and salads. For a bunch of kale recipes and ideas, click here.
Clementines are the perfect, portable, easy-to-peel, on-the-go lunch fruit. These cheerful globes are high in vitamin C and very kid-friendly.
Brussels sprouts have become quite the gourmet appetizer on restaurant menus and are no longer the shunned vegetable you may remember as a kid. A member of the cabbage family, they are low in calories but high in fiber and protein as well as vitamins A, C, and B6, so they support immune health. Here's a recipe for delicious Roasted Brussels Sprouts.
Cabbage, Brussel sprouts’ larger cousin, is low in fat, high in fiber, very inexpensive, and keeps well. There are so many more options besides boiling it for St. Patrick’s Day dinner, like these recipes here.
Winter squash includes butternut, pumpkin, spaghetti, acorn, and other varieties, and they’re all ubiquitous, affordable, and long lasting at room temperature. Although squash may be harvested more in the fall, mountains of them are sold throughout the winter months. They do require a bit of extra time to cook, but the prep itself is not difficult, and they caramelize beautifully into a tender side dish that can be dressed up or down with brown sugar, cinnamon, herbs, and more. Here's a recipe for Roasted Butternut Squash.
Sweet potatoes pack a punch nutritionally and give you loads of vitamin A, beta- carotene, fiber, and potassium. They are naturally sweet and really don’t need marshmallows or syrup, unless that makes you happy. Best of all, you can simply bake them at 425 degrees for around 45 minutes (scrub and prick with a fork first) and then top with butter or coconut oil, cinnamon, cumin, chili powder, plain yogurt, or anything you like.
Pomegranates. When talking about winter produce, we can’t forget to mention this exotic, deciduous shrub, prized for its fruit and shiny foliage. Pomegranates hail originally from the region between Iran and Northern India, and it’s thought Spanish settlers brought them to the New World in the 1700s. California is the largest producer of pomegranates in the U.S., and you’ll see many growing locally; they thrive in drier climates. They may require some practice when peeling but look beautiful displayed as is in a bowl with another winter fruit, limes. Of course, you may squeeze copious amounts of the ruby arils, embedded with seeds, to get a glass of piquant juice, but they are a nutritious, high fiber “super food” and make a colorful garnish when scattered on salads or other dishes. Pomegranate juice also makes a vibrant mixer, especially when combined with a clear alcohol like gin or vodka.
A Word On Fabulous Fruit Trees….
When waking up to frosty mornings, you may not think of growing fruit right now, but when warmer months arrive, you’ll be happy to step outside your door and pick ripe fruit from trees you’ve grown yourself. The fruit is not only more delicious but also more healthy, especially when pesticides haven’t been used. Fruit trees are hardworking production plants, and when you GYO (Grow Your Own), you can be confident that they haven’t languished in boxes, been shipped from countries thousands of miles away, or been packed with chemicals. January and February is actually the best time to plant fruit trees, so now is the time to take advantage of hardy root stock plants available at your local garden center. Dwarf and semi-dwarf varieties only need 3 X 3 or 4 X 4 feet of space and produce fruit in as little as three years after establishing strong root systems.
Here's a previous article on fruit trees from this website.
Here's a guide on pruning fruit trees and preventing pests from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
For a guide that shows you which varieties of fruit trees grow best in which zones in Contra Costa County, visit this link from the UC Master Gardener Program.
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