Farmers markets, fruit and vegetable stands, perhaps even a small-town grocery are great ways to try the local bounty of an area. This month, we celebrate the diversity of food with this discussion question:
Describe a stop you’ve made for fresh, local produce that you enjoyed during a motorhome trip.
We made our favorite local produce stop Down East in Machias, Maine. Leaving the restaurant where we had just eaten a lobster roll followed by fresh blueberry pie, we spotted a blueberry farm right across the road. We wandered over to see how the harvesting was done and discovered that it was a wild lowbush blueberry farm. The land was swarming with young pickers, bending low to scoop up the berries with their small aluminum rakes. We had a chance for a pleasant conversation with two of the workers who were on break. One man from New York had his faithful dog along. While talking, we noticed that the blueberries had dyed the workers’ shoes and hands blue!
Avery and Susan Burns, F382240
Isle Of Palms, South Carolina
Two special occasions come to mind when a local produce stop added a memory for us. In Wisconsin, we were able to pick various kinds of berries. In Oregon, we picked corn in the field. There, we paid for our ears of corn by putting money in a box attached to a fence. We always stop at farmers markets and get great local produce while meeting local people.
Lang Secrest, F187589
Sierra Vista, Arizona
We had stopped for a few days in Loreto, Baja Mexico, and were riding our bicycles around town. We came upon a big garden and decided to take a look. To our surprise, we were able to pick our own tomatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini, and to pull our own radishes, carrots, beets, and other root vegetables. We washed off all of the vegetables at a big concrete pond with fresh water running into it. A nice older man in a chair took our money. Everything was very inexpensive, and it was fun to get our own vegetables. What could be fresher than that?
Weta Berger, F205425
Brownsville, California
Whenever we travel on California State Route 20 from Williams past the north side of Clearlake (or on our return), we stop at Seely Farm Stand in Upper Lake (707-275-0525; www.seelyfarmstand.com). It’s about a quarter-mile east of State Route 29. It’s easy to park just off the highway and let the dogs out. “Best pears around,” Judy says, plus apples as well as other produce selected from local growers. On our annual October trip, we get squash and pumpkins.
Dan and Judy Fregin, F389328
Chico, California
Future questions:
1. Describe a craft, hobby, activity, or sport you enjoy during a motorhome trip.
2. FMCA’s 93rd Family Reunion & Motorhome Showcase will take place March 17-20, 2016, in Perry, Georgia. What are your favorite restaurants or sight-seeing attractions in the “Peach State”?