In Search of Food

Back in January, I posted on one of the best books I have read in a while, In Defense of Food. Currently, I am reading one of Michael Pollan's other books, The Omnivore's Dilemma. While In Defense of Food provides the rules for eating, The Omnivore's Dilemma focuses on the reasons for the rules. If you are interested in what you eat, such as where your food comes from and how it is produced, you should check out this book.

Although we have enjoyed preparing meals at home for years, we have recently been paying more attention to what goes into our grocery cart and onto our plates, especially focusing on eliminating processed foods. This week I got inspired and began scouring the internet for alternative food sources in our area. Don't get me wrong--I love Central Market and its oh-so-pleasant shopping experience. However, I am interested in seeing what else is out there.

My first search was for local grass-finished meats. That's when I came across Burgundy Pasture Beef. They sell grass-finished beef, pork, lamb and chicken, and you can even pick up some free-range eggs while you are there. I initially thought I would just order 10 pounds and have it delivered to my home. However, I decided to make it a weekend field trip for the two of us, so we are going to drive down to Granbury this weekend to check out the ranch and see what all they have to offer. If we decide we like their products, we'll likely have our subsequent orders delivered.

My second search was for an organic produce co-op in my area. Honestly, I figured I would be out of luck trying to find one of these deep in the heart of Texas. I was wrong! I found the Your Health Source organic produce co-op right in my back yard. Not only do they have a pick-up location just a few miles from my office, the prices are also reasonable. An example of a "basic share" of produce from the co-op includes: Bok Choy, Broccoli, Carrots, Cucumbers, Garlic, Red Leaf Lettuce, Red Onions, Yukon Gold Potatoes, Spinach, Roma Tomatoes, Braeburn Apples, Lemons, Avocados, Bananas, Valencia Oranges, and Bosc Pears. This basic share is delivered every other Tuesday for a cost of $50. However, you can opt for a half share for $25. The only other costs are $12 for the delivery bins and the $25 fee to join the co-op, and they do not cash this check until you've been through 3 delivery cycles (6 weeks) and decide if you want to continue. They also give you an opportunity to order bulk dry goods at an additional charge. I figure this will give us an opportunity to try new vegetables and eat more vegetables. I am looking forward to our first delivery date on Tuesday, April 28th.

I will keep you posted on all of our culinary adventures.