More About the Produce Department
Last Updated on Thursday, 30 June 2011 22:03
Ithaca is fortunate to be at the center of a vibrant and growing farming community. Our region supports many small and family farms many of which are organic. GreenStar’s Produce Department maintains a close relationship with all our local suppliers and has first-hand knowledge of their commitment to best practices for the land and our community.
We buy from over 20 local (organic and conventional) farms and offer local products year round. From June to November you will find the best, local organic lettuce, greens, tomatoes and winter squash plus hard-to-find items like futsu squash, Adirondack blue potatoes, and lemon cucumbers. In the winter months we still have local onions, beets, turnips, apples and other storage crops. In addition, Fingerlakes Fresh supplies us with local, hydroponic lettuces year round. Here in New York, we are known for our apples and GreenStar’s got some of the best. Come in and try an heirloom golden russet, a calville blanc or any of the other varieties we carry.
| New in Produce - Yes, We Have Fair Trade Bananas |
Andy Rizos,
This month, I've got some thoughts on bananas from our Equal Exchange representative, Nicole Vitello: "Bananas aren't local or seasonal. There's only one variety. They are grown in far-away places by people generally without access to the global trading market. For products like bananas, tea, coffee and cocoa, how can you apply the values you use when joining a CSA or becoming a member of GreenStar? Fair trade helps to address this problem. A fair-trade banana is not the same as a conventional banana, or even an organic banana. It's the concept behind the banana that makes it different, not the actual fruit itself. The Equal Exchange fair-trade banana represents the relationship with small farmers who don't live in your neighborhood. It represents not only GreenStar's relationship with Equal Exchange but with CEPIBO, APOQ and GUABO, the banana farmers growing your fruit halfway around the world. Learn more at www.beyondthepeel.com."
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