As grocery stores and modern machinery have made food shopping and cooking more convenient, we unfortunately have lost touch with where the food actually comes from. Farms across the country have sadly been forgotten and we have lost the connection with farmers and freshly picked food. Being able to talk to the people who have grown or otherwise produced the food you are buying is a completely different experience. An experience I hope you have the privilege of enjoying in the near future. Not only will it entice you to buy local, but also you will become more educated about your food purchasing decisions and thus enjoy the whole cooking experience even more.
I recently was fortunate enough to experience a visit to Finca Pura Vida, a 44 acre farm in Fayetteville, Texas (about 1 hour from Austin). Run by Edgar Chavez, a Costa Rican native, and Gayla Lyons, the farm produces a bounty of fresh organic heirloom (original seedlings that grow true to type excluding all hybrids) vegetables, grass-fed chickens, turkeys, cows, and pigs. The farm also produces high quality herbs, such as oregano (from Costa Rica) and basil. Expecting to spend only 15-20 minutes at the farm, 3 hours went by like time was standing still. Edgar walked me through the fields picking me sweet peppers, zucchini, and squash as if the entire farm was just for me – what an experience! As we walked, we discussed (in Spanish) the difficulties he faces on a daily basis. For one, investing the large amounts of capital required to farm organic can be overwhelming. This brought upon the next topic – what is organic farming? Edgar candidly expressed that organic farming essentially means more money and more importantly more time spent tending to the crops. Because the crops cannot be maintained with pesticides or artificial fertilizers, they have to spend more time nurturing them. As a result, farmers invest both large amounts of money and time (80-100 hour work weeks) just to meet the “organic farming” standards. I asked Edgar why he spends so much time and money farming when faced with so many difficulties. He quickly responded with “because this is what I was born to do and it is what I love.” Edgar started farming at the age of two where he developed his talent for farming from his grandfather in Costa Rica. Driven by his love for the soil and animals, Edgar spoke passionately about farming. He explained why it is so important for regular people like you and me to not just go to local farmers markets but to actually visit a local farm, speak to the farmers, and learn about food and how it is produced. The more that we can educate ourselves and one another about the importance of preserving our local farms, the more prevalent they will become. Get to know your local farmers and buy from them whenever possible. By doing so, you will enjoy a memorable learning experience and keep family farms like Finca Pura Vida alive.
After being invited into Edgar’s home for a cup of Costa Rican coffee, we walked through the fields where his grass-only fed cows and pigs graze. He explained to me the difference in taste and health benefits between his animals and the animals produced by large corporate farms that we have all become too accustomed to eating. Not only does his beef and pork taste more natural and flavorful but more importantly it is better for you. For example, his pigs take 10-12 months to mature where as pigs at big manufacturing plants take only 3-4 months. The drastic difference is due to the antibiotics and steroids pumped into the animals so that they will plump up faster. As a result, both the taste and health benefits of the pork produced by these large manufacturing plants are non-existent.
This is where as a chef I get angry and frustrated. Angry because the large scale manufacturing of these animals have caused people to believe that pork is bad rather than good for you. Frustrated because it is now difficult (for chefs and food lovers) to make people understand how good (grass-fed) pork can taste when prepared correctly. Family farms like Finca Pura Vida are tended by people (like Edgar and Gayla) who love the land, their community and their crops, and that makes eating more pleasurable (and healthier) on every level. So no matter where you live, it is time for all of us to focus some of our time on buying local produce and keeping our farmers in business. Take your family out (like my Father did with me) and tempt your senses by visiting your nearest farm and get to know your local producers. If you cannot make it to the farm, no worries as Finca Pura Vida can be visited on Saturday mornings at the Sunset Valley Farmers Market. Once you have an heirloom tomato with good Spanish olive oil, aged Italian balsamic vinegar, sea salt and fresh ground pepper, you will understand…
If you aren’t yet familiar with any family farms in your area, check out Local Harvest’s website: www.localharvest.org . The site allows you to search by your zip code to locate farms close to your home.
