A recent trip to the Okanagan brought back memories and satisfied the taste buds. Memories of trips to the garden for vegetables or fruit for the dinner table. Many items could be plucked, washed and eaten while a few like peas and corn took a tiny bit more effort.

I have very clear recollection of many evenings spent shelling peas or cramming cucumbers into pickle jars. Effort put in ‘during the season’ meant readily available food during the winter. The cost for this food foraging is very low as long as you have access to the soil and are prepared to put in the effort.

An alternative is to buy these items in bulk in season, put in a little work and enjoy the rewards during the fall and winter. Peas (not yet shelled) were bought for $2 per pound and cherries for $1.49 per pound. Corn is abundant in the lower mainland too! A little effort as well as time and gas to get to the farm are required!

In both cases, you know where your food comes from and you are able to handle it when it is freshest. Bon Appetit!