THUNDER BAY – Are you looking for a back to school New Year filled with great, nutritious, local food? One of the few local vegetables still available at local grocers, Quality Market and George’s Market is Winter Squash. Local growers, Belluz Farms, will have Jodi and Claire Belluz on site in the stores Friday and Saturday doing squash tasting and providing information and cooking tips for you.
Kevin Belluz says, “Come for a squash tasting and info session with Jodi and Claire Belluz at both Quality Market locations (Centennial Square and Campus Hill) on Friday, January 13th from 1-3pm or Claire Belluz at George’s Market (Balsam St.) on Saturday, January 14th from 12-2pm. They’ll be focusing on how to prepare squash easily for the family and sampling a great recipe for the lunch bags that everyone in the family will eat.
They will also be giving out Foodland Ontario 2012 Calendars to all who stop by.
If you’ve resolved this New Year to eat more great, nutritious, local food then winter squash is the perfect start and available now!
Squash is one of the few vegetables that grows well in Northern Ontario and can be stored quite easily to help provide important nutrients from a local crop through the winter. Picked prior to the first hard frost in the fall, squash is stored best at around 12 degrees Celsius and 60% relative humidity. Most varieties will keep for at least 2 months, but the hardier ones will store for 6+ months.
Winter squash is: An excellent source of Vitamin A, A good source of Potassium, A source of Fibre, Vitamin C, Folate, Vitamin K, Magnesium, Manganese. See vhq.ca for more information. It is a tremendously versatile vegetable, once you know how to get into it!
Belluz Farms has prepared a great information sheet with recipes to help – all available at www.belluzfarms.on.ca. Squash is also available delivered to your office from Superior Seasons Food Market, www.marketstore.locallygrown.net.