Rooted in tradition: Cultivating fresh, local foods

By Jamie Strickland

We can't talk about food in Johnston County without paying tribute to those who grow it. Our county is known for its rich farming heritage, and that’s not just a thing of the past.

Local food production is alive and well here. From roadside farm stands to backyard gardens and commercial food farms, JoCo has no shortage of fresh seasonal and locally grown produce.

Plenty of these items will be chopped up and prepared in traditional southern kitchens, just like Granny did it. Many more will end up being served from some of our abundant farm to table restaurants.

Seasonal Goodness

Each new season in JoCo brings a new bounty with fresh flavors to look forward to.

Cold weather crops may be less abundant, but the weather is mild enough that several nutritious vegetables still thrive.

Hardy greens like collards, mustard greens and kale as well as brussel sprouts and peas and some root crops like radishes and turnips can be found in the winter.

North Carolina’s spring is known for its delicious strawberries, with plenty of locations to buy fresh bushels full or get your own at a pick-your-own farm. Spring time also brings plenty of leafy greens like lettuce, cabbage, kale, arugula and spinach. Asparagus, broccoli and carrots are also ready in spring, typically in April and May before the weather gets too hot.

Heat-loving tomatoes and peppers, both mild and spicy, are in their prime during the summer months, along with fruits like cantaloupe, blueberries and watermelon. Beans, corn, cucumbers, okra and squash are just a few more favorites to be eaten fresh or canned for a taste of summer during the winter months. Grocery store varieties can’t hold a candle to a freshly picked heirloom tomato in the middle of the summer. Do yourself a favor and grab

some Duke’s mayo and some fresh white bread, a little salt and pepper and slice that tomato up for a southern summer delicacy — the savored tomato sandwich.

The Orange Superfood

Fall in North Carolina brings the mighty sweet potato, a huge agricultural export that packs an equally substantial nutritional punch.

The North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission is a nonprofit corporation located in Benson, and it represents growers and associates of the “orange superfood.” (Side note - the Commission asserts that “sweetpotato” is one word, rather than the more common spelling, sweet potato. It even introduced a petition on change.org to have the official spelling changed. See the sidebar for more details.)

North Carolina is the number one sweet potato producing state and grows nearly 60 percent of the nation’s supply — more than California, Louisiana and Mississippi combined, according to the Commission. Many of those are grown right here, with Johnston, Sampson, Wilson and Nash accounting for about half of the state’s supply.

The orange vegetable has many health benefits and is full of vitamins A and C, potassium, beta-carotene, antioxidants, fiber and complex carbohydrates. Pumpkins, apples (most varieties grow a little further to the west), muscadine and scuppernong grapes and sweet corn are some other autumn treats to look forward to.

Where to get fresh produce

The Johnston County Visitors Bureau lists 25 different farmer’s markets and produce stands spread throughout every area of the county. Use their website, www.johnstoncountync.org, to find one to visit today. Some are right in town, and some will take you on a bit of a galavant, but the drive promises to be worth your while.

While you’re there, try some other delicacies like local honey, jams, jellies and other jarred goodies, as well as some fresh, hot boiled peanuts. (If you’ve never had them before, don’t be alarmed — they are soft, not crunchy, and yes they’re supposed to be that way. When boiled, the peanut is more like a bean in texture and they are salty and delicious!)

Do you want to try your hand at growing some of these fruits and veggies for yourself? The Johnston County Cooperative Extension is a valuable resource with a wealth of information on local gardening. Their Master Gardener volunteers offer classes throughout the year and plenty of articles on the subject can be found on their website, www.johnston.ces.ncsu.edu.

Is 'Sweetpotato' one word?

Well it is, according to the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission, which is based in Benson. The commission has introduced a petition on change.org to update dictionary entries to the one-word spelling.

According to the petition: “It is a noun and not an adjective. That means sweet is not a descriptor, but part of the actual nomenclature. This is different than a potato which uses adjectives like white, red or russet to describe an entirely different vegetable,” it says. “The one-word spelling was officially adopted by the National Sweetpotato Collaborators in 1989. Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) must not be confused with the equally unique and distinctive potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) which are also grown and marketed commercially in the U.S.

And did you know that yams (Dioscorea sp.) are not even grown in the US? More than likely, you have never even tasted a yam in your life!”