I found Xavier Equihua's comment about grapes in December quite telling. When I was growing up in 50's America we looked forward to the season's - to that first great Summer peach, strawberry, nectarine and watermellon. Then to the Fall and persimmons, apples and pears. Yes, now we have everything available to us all the time but none of it is special any longer as it is always there. Our society has lost a sense of what makes things special and it has permeated all aspects of our lives. As well, most of the fruits and veggies we get all year round actually suck - oh, they look great but mostly they are tasteless, a pale replacement for that very special first peach of Summer - fruit truly in season. I feel a sense of loss for kids growing up today in the environment of everything all of the time. Sure you have peaches in December - but is it really what a peach ought to be - picked unripe and shipped thousands of miles? I think not. Possibly going local can contribute more to our culture than we suspect. There are those of us American's who still remember what specialness means. I would hope we can recapture that in all facets of our lives.

ITA.

Why is it that Americans have a sense of entitlement to whatever they want when ever they want it. Waiting for the thing you want makes it so much more enjoyable when you finally get it. No grapes in January, please. Thank you very much.

Amen to that! Exactly what I was thinking. Also, since when is produce shipped from California to New York considered local?

These supposed "miracle" foods, grown all through the year, are tasteless compared to food raised naturally. Sure, you got peaches, but they're flat and not nearly as sweet as the one's growing on the tree outside my window. (And no, I don't live on a farm. I live in a little house in the middle of L.A.) The tomatoes that get shipped across the country are awful - shipped before they ripen, they have no chance to develop a real taste under the sun, as they should.

I agree with RjA's comment and add that some of us who farm part time, and DO grow and preserve some of what we eat, have never bought into the 'grapes in January' mentality. I'd rather eat my own preserved strawberries from last June in January rather than eat the cardboard 'fresh' strawberries the stores peddle in winter. Freezing corn, green beans, limas, and berries, and canning tomatoes for vegetable and chili soup allows people to eat 'locally' all year. I'm not saying we don't buy lettuce in winter--we do--but we, and our neighbors, try to grow as much of our own as we can.

We have been organic gardeners in Ontario Ca. since 1991, and grow vegetables, fruits and herbs organically all year. What we don't grow we buy at local farmers markets. I agree with all the comments made about the article and buying local produce. I mean, in this economy does it make any sense to spend your hard earned money on tastless produce shipped thousands of miles? I'll tell you, there is no greater feeling than going to my backyard and picking fruit, harvesting herbs and vegetables to prepare a meal. I know where the food is from, I know it wasn't grown using pesticides, and I know it is going to taste good. Thanks