My husband Daniel and I just got back from a week-long vacation in Southern California. While there, we had the opportunity to stop by our first Cali Farmer's Market. It was amazing how much produce was already growing there! They even had corn already!

Knowing what fruits and veggies we would get in our upcoming CSA season, we decided to go for those things special to Cali: avocados and oranges. And I have to say, they were absolutely night and day different than the ones we could pick up in NYC. SO much fresher, SO much tastier. We were astounded!

Why did the food taste THAT much better? Well, they had been just-picked when RIPE, not before it was ripe like the ones we get in NYC. They hadn't been sitting around in a truck or in a box in a store room for god knows how long. In short, they were FRESH and IN SEASON.

While we were in Cali, we ALSO witnessed firsthand $4.55/gallon at a gas station in Hollywood. And kept hearing that gas prices were why food was getting so very expensive. So, then I got to thinking-

Eating LOCALLY and SEASONALLY is one simple way we can help divert these costs. We all know by now the concept of Food Miles. That's the distance from farm to fork your food travels to get to you. And the average is 1500 miles. That's a LOT of gas. By buying locally produced, seasonal food from your Farmers Market or CSA, your food may have traveled 70 miles. That's a lot LESS gas. And therefore, less cost. And better flavor!!! You win twice!!

Another way is to buy ORGANIC as well as Seasonal and Local. Organic production methods do not use petro-based chemicals and fertilizers, which come from oil.Organic products have cost more in the past, but I wouldn't be surprised, with the cost of oil, to see prices equal out sometime soon.

The final way is to go Vegetarian or Vegan. Now, of course, most of you know I eat meat, so this is by no means a MUST. Some folks (myself included) function best with some meat in their diets. BUT, from a "cutting fuel cost" standpoint, this may be the BEST way to go as from calf to steer (or chick to chicken, etc) the production of meat uses the most fuel by FAR.

Anyhow, this Spring/Summer, as more and more produce becomes available wherever you may be, consider these things as you do your food shopping. By going LOCAL, SEASONAL, ORGANIC or even Vegetarian, you will be doing your part to cut down on fuel consumption. So, go to it.

Happy Eating!!!