Organic, Pitch

CSA options abound for those looking for local produce, eggs and meat

Jonathan Bender — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:15:19 -0600

It's a good time to be in the market for local produce, eggs and meat. A number of area community-supported agriculture programs are now taking deposits for the upcoming season.…

How to eat local for the holidays

Jonathan Bender — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 11:15:33 -0600

You might not feed as many people as a Kansas farmer this year -- although preparing Thanksgiving dinner may feel like you're cooking for 129 people -- but you can feature some of what they grow on your dinner table.

The Greater Kansas City Food Policy Coalition has launched a campaign and corresponding Web site, Eat Local for the Holidays, which has a list of farmer's markets, local vendors and a guide to what's in season.…

Why a $4 peach may make sense

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 10:45:30 -0500

It's easy to get caught up in the sensationalism of a $4 peach. The average shopper would likely say that's a ridiculous price for a single piece of fruit.…

From Farmville to farm real?

Mandy Mendon — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 11:15:29 -0500

After months of tending your flock in Farmville, you might start thinking you're ready to move to the real thing.

No problem. Thanks to Craigslist's Farm and Garden listings, you can get everything you need to be an agriculture big-wig without ever leaving your office (assuming, of course, the City Council doesn't shut you down).…

Fat City on 'Walt Bodine Show' tomorrow: eating organic

Charles Ferruzza — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 15:37:04 -0500

Hey, Fat City readers: I'll be co-hosting The Walt Bodine Show tomorrow -- Friday, September 17 -- when the show airs at 10 a.m. on KCUR 89.3. The featured topic: "Eating Organic," including finding restaurants, bistros, bruncheonettes and joints in town that cook with organically grown vegetables, organically fed beef and poultry, and other healthy ingredients.

To join the conversation on the program, call during the hour: 816-235-2888.

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Nature's Own Health Food Market opens September 7 on Main

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:15:47 -0500

The sign is up and the groceries began to arrive yesterday. Nature's Own Health Food Market is getting ready to open on Tuesday, September 7.…

Cherry tomatoes are tiny, juicy bursts of candy

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 10:00:20 -0500

When you learned to ride a bike, you had training wheels to make sure you didn't scrape your knee or immediately fall over onto the lawn. That's how I see cherry tomatoes.…

A farmer's market find, sweet potato greens are in season

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 10:00:40 -0500

You've probably been working from the ground floor up when it comes to sweet potatoes. The tubers are easy to master.…

We're a nation in need of novelty fruit

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 09:30:45 -0500

The prevailing wisdom suggests that America would be healthier if we were just to consume more fruits and vegetables. And in an effort to get to that point, companies are rolling out all manners of fruit-based pills and drinks designed to make eating produce more convenient.…

When the hot juice runs down your fingers ... sweet corn is in season

Jonathan Bender — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:28 -0500

Sweet corn is like nature's snack food. A little salt and a little heat and you've got yourself a finger food as addictive as Pringles.…

Blackberry season is upon us

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 09:30:00 -0500

Take a break from blueberries. In fact, forget about them entirely.…

In season: Blueberries

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 09:00:45 -0500

Blueberries are a summer grab bag. Some are tart.…

Bad Seed now accepts EBT cards and food stamps

Jonathan Bender — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 10:20:39 -0500

The Bad Seed Farmers Market (1909 McGee, 4 to 9 p.m. Fridays through November 19) has begun accepting electronic benefit transfer payments.…

Excelsior Springs downtown farmers market opens today

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 09:45:06 -0500

In a community known for its Hall of Waters, it's the cinnamon rolls that are calling out-of-town guests to Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

The homemade cinnamon rolls from Van Till Farms (a regular at the City Market farmers market) will draw you to the 10 to 12 vendor tables piled with eggs, produce and herbs, in downtown Excelsior Springs from 4 to 7 p.m. today.…

How to turn an empty milk bottle into a free burrito

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 13:00:19 -0500

Milk doesn't just build strong bones -- it can also earn you a

free burrito. From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, you can

exchange an empty Shatto bottle for a free burrito, burrito bowl,

tacos or salad at Chipotle.…

39th Street Market reopens as Westport Plaza Farmer's Market today

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 05 May 2010 10:00:02 -0500

The Westport Plaza Farmer's Market debuts today just four blocks South of the previous location of the market formerly known as the 39th Street Community Market.

The new market at the northwest corner of Westport Road and Wyoming Street will run Wednesdays from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. through October 6.…

Farmer's markets start to open in Kansas City

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:00:08 -0500

If you want to eat local produce, it will get a lot easier over the next month as farmer's markets begin to open around the city. While the Merriam Organic Market is still searching for a permanent home, the 39th Street Community Market has successfully relocated in Westport.…

I Love You Shop opens at Hammerpress

Jonathan Bender — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:06 -0600

The I Love You Shop at Hammerpress debuts at tonight's First Friday in the Crossroads. Inside the old-timey card shop, I Love You is a modern take on a general store attached to the two-chair hair studio that is being run by Amber Hodgson.…

Local eaters form Squash Blossom Cooperative

Jonathan Bender — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:45:06 -0600

You might know Steve Mann from his work with Food Not Lawns -- and his tireless campaign to turn manicured landscapes into vegetable beds. What you might not know is that he's been working to slowly bring together a food cooperative in Kansas City.

The Squash Blossom Food Cooperative came into existence earlier this month when 20 volunteers ratified the articles of incorporation.…

Dispatches from the KC Food Circle annual meeting

Jonathan Bender — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:30:16 -0600

The need for a more sustainable, larger local food production system was a recurring topic at the roundtable discussion that highlighted the Kansas City Food Circle's annual meeting on Sunday. The organization is dedicated to pairing local growers with local eaters; its current membership includes 68 producers and 120 eaters.

"There's a number of new groups associated with developing a community food system, so we invited them to a roundtable discussion, in an effort to coordinate their efforts," says Craig Volland - a coordinator with KC Food Circle.…

Farmer's markets continue indoors

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:15:14 -0600

It's easy to forget to eat your vegetables when the weather gets cold, but plenty of seasonal produce is still being sold at indoors farmer's markets across the metro. Most of the markets have hours on the weekends and will be selling meat, cheese and root vegetables -- the kinds that are perfect for roasting and making soups.…

In season: Radishes

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:30:47 -0500

You probably have a strong opinion about radishes. Many people find the spicy, almost peppery flavor of raw radishes too bitter, missing out on what could be a colorful and flavorful addition to sides and dishes.…

In Season: Sweet potatoes

Jonathan Bender — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:03 -0500

We're right on the cusp of sweet potato season, and this versatile vegetable deserves a spot on your plate outside of Thanksgiving dinner.

Everybody can pick out a good sweet potato.…

Could Walmart make us healthier?

Jonathan Bender — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:00:45 -0500

Long criticized for its employee health care practices and in-store fast food offerings, could Walmart be the America's answer to improving people's diets? That's the suggestion from a recent NPR story, which posits that Walmart's distribution network and purchasing power could be the key to changing the way Americans eat.…

In season: Figs

Jonathan Bender — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:45:39 -0500

Eating a fresh fig can be a bit like getting on a motorcycle for the first time -- slightly intimidating but joyous.

While I've heard their taste described as a mix between a peach and a strawberry, it's safe to say that the pulpy flesh is richly sweet and juicy when they're properly ripened. If you're picking figs, you want to know what color they are supposed to be when they're ripe -- there are a number of varieties from yellow to black.…