Fresh and Fabulous

It's no secret that I love food.
It's also no secret that I love a good deal.
Which is why I am so excited that I have discovered Hollygrove Market.  I've shopped at Farmers Markets before, but I have never had such a pleasant experience.

Hollygrove Market

Hollygrove Market is part of a growing trend of dispersing local food.  Hollygrove provides a consistent opportunity for small and medium sized farmers to sell their products at a fair price.

Hollygrove also provides an opportunity for local artisans to sell their products; the Pie Guy, Louisiana Seafood, and candle makers are often seen on Saturday mornings.

One of the hardest problems with cooking healthy, fresh, and local foods is having the time to shop.  Once you get to the grocery store how do you differentiate between natural and organic?  Is local more important than natural?  And how do I know what fruits and veggies are actually in season?
Hollygrove answers all those questions for you with what they call 'The Box'.

The Box is a flat rate of $25 and includes a range of seasonal fruits and vegetables.  Last week when I made my visit I purchased: mustard greens, red swiss chard, a head of savoy cabbage, brussel sprouts, heirloom carrots, turnips, micro greens, salad mix, grapefruit, blood oranges, and satsumas.  All that produce for only $25!  And they give teacher and student discounts!

Maybe you don't have time to go to Hollygrove, or maybe you live a bit farther out and can't get there.  That's okay! Hollygrove will deliver your box to you!  You can choose a weekend or weekday delivery, whatever works best for your schedule.

My grocery bill has dramatically gone down since I started shopping at Hollygrove.  The majority of my meals are created around what I get in my Box, which means most of my meals are vegetables based.  I'm eating healthier, eating cheaper, and supporting local farmers the whole time.

Food Hubs

The Department Secretary of Agriculture recently visited Hollygrove during a press conference on Food Hubs.  Food Hubs are a place where small to mid-sized farmers can bring their wares.  The Hub itself will then distribute the food and provide the staffing to sell the products.

The FDA is promoting Food Hubs as a way for local produce to become available to restaurants, schools, and hospitals. 

If you are interested in finding Food Hubs and local agriculture in your area you can check out the USDA site 'Know your Farmer, Know your Food.'  You can find farmers markets in your areas, check out food news, and see how you can get involved in the local food movement.