Part of the Culinary Adventure is celebrating food- ALWAYS. This means having GRATITUDE, REVERENCE, AND APPRECIATION, for all that food provides us.

Let me count the ways…. 1- Life sustaining nourishment 2-Hunger satisfaction 3-Taste, smell and visual satisfaction (sensual) 4- Opportunity for creativity 5- Connection with others (sharing recipes around the world)…..and many more!

Being in the Desert in California, I have been able to witness how some of the produce supply chain operates. Growing up as a native New Yorker, until the opening of the Farmer’s Markets, the majority of the produce was purchased in the supermarket. NO SUCH THING AS ORGANIC! There were some small produce stores around, in which more produce was available.

I, myself forget to honor where all this bountiful food comes from…..Food winds up in the market, and then on my plate! How many folks have been. involved in getting this food to me? There are the farmers who work so hard to produce the food. Then they will get their produce to wholesale markets, or individual distributors. Then to a store or another market, to me…. I might be missing some steps.

There is a Farmer’s Market near me on the weekends. The produce is superb! It is always fresh, tasty and wonderful! I had an interesting conversation with the manager the other day. He explained to me that he “makes a run to the LA wholesale produce market at 2am”; picks up the produce, drives back to the Desert, and then takes easily an hour to set up the market, which opens around 8am. The manager told me that he is “probably the last generation to do this”, as it is so much. hard work. His parents ran the business before, and he “would go to the market with them when he was 10 years old”.

I have been thinking about this conversation ever since! How much we take for granted. What if this guy no longer brings fresh produce? What happens if this supply chain breaks down? How will I eat my 5-8 fresh fruits and vegetables every day? How will I sustain my health? Definitely food for thought! I have profound respect for this labor of love!

Let us pay tribute to all of the hard work that our farmers, distributors and others do in their many varied functions, to bring us our produce. We are so blessed in our country with the abundance of volume, variety and options of fruits and vegetables…..

I, for one, pledge to honor, celebrate and support our produce distributors who bring us the gifts of life giving sustenance, pleasure and joy! I THANK YOU!