The Fresh Maker
May 18, 2011 8:06 AM Subscribe
It is clever. Epicurious, as usual, has some interesting ideas of what "meatless" entails, but the recipes are easy enough to fix, if that's your bag.
Evidently, I will be eating kale for the next few months. Then, corn!
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:10 AM on May 18, 2011
Evidently, I will be eating kale for the next few months. Then, corn!
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:10 AM on May 18, 2011
At first I thought this was going to be satire, like:
MICHIGAN AUGUST
2 quarts mosquitos
3 cups chopped roadwork cones
Just a pinch of dioxin
etc
But this is really nice. Grocery stores have more or less destroyed my ability to track what's freshest to eat or what I can expect at the farmers market. Thanks!
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 8:11 AM on May 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
MICHIGAN AUGUST
2 quarts mosquitos
3 cups chopped roadwork cones
Just a pinch of dioxin
etc
But this is really nice. Grocery stores have more or less destroyed my ability to track what's freshest to eat or what I can expect at the farmers market. Thanks!
posted by The demon that lives in the air at 8:11 AM on May 18, 2011 [5 favorites]
*bookmarks with all due speed*
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:15 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:15 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is useful and fun...even if my state is looking a bit grim this month.
posted by victoriab at 8:16 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by victoriab at 8:16 AM on May 18, 2011
Cherimoyas?
posted by BrotherCaine at 8:20 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by BrotherCaine at 8:20 AM on May 18, 2011
Where are they getting this data from? I know next to nothing about agriculture, but it seems wildly improbable that right now, Connecticut has only lettuce and spinach, Massachusetts has nothing growing, but Rhode Island has 9 different crops. Similarly, Montana and Utah have absolutely nothing, but Wyoming has everything from corn to tomatoes.
posted by Copronymus at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Copronymus at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh hells no. I am not waiting til August for glorious white peaches, you heartless bastard map. You are not the boss of me.
posted by elizardbits at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by elizardbits at 8:25 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
Pity North Dakota - nothing but cabbage from October through June. Except for January, February and March, during which I assume North Dakotans survive on their stockpiled cabbages.
posted by logicpunk at 8:27 AM on May 18, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by logicpunk at 8:27 AM on May 18, 2011 [9 favorites]
Yeah, I live in Montana and I am apparently supposed to be eating root veggies from storage for the next two months and after that all I get is corn, cherries and raspberries (not complaining, but not a lot of variety). All of this despite the fact that it's been in the high 60s-70s for the past week and I have arugula growing in my garden RIGHT NOW. When you live in a colder climate, you learn the work-arounds (greenhouses, cold frames). Still, this is a neat idea that could benefit from some more data.
posted by Polyhymnia at 8:29 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by Polyhymnia at 8:29 AM on May 18, 2011
This is cool but Tennessee just says "Asparagus" whereas other Southern states have many more things, so it seems incomplete. For example, I know local strawberries are in season.
posted by ghharr at 8:37 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by ghharr at 8:37 AM on May 18, 2011
it seems wildly improbable that right now, Connecticut has only lettuce and spinach, Massachusetts has nothing growing, but Rhode Island has 9 different crops
Rhode Islanders' worship of Dark Gods gives them an edge in produce production. The blood of the innocent also waters the turfgrass fields. And feeds the quahogs...
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:38 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Rhode Islanders' worship of Dark Gods gives them an edge in produce production. The blood of the innocent also waters the turfgrass fields. And feeds the quahogs...
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:38 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Cherimoyas?
A strangely-shaped fruit that tastes rather like artificial vanilla pudding.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:39 AM on May 18, 2011
A strangely-shaped fruit that tastes rather like artificial vanilla pudding.
posted by GenjiandProust at 8:39 AM on May 18, 2011
Once again I am reminded of how fruitful home is and the nearest States to me aren't as productive right now.
posted by Kitteh at 8:49 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by Kitteh at 8:49 AM on May 18, 2011
Mmmm, spinach salad with strawberries and roasted asparagus for dinner tonight here in VA.
posted by headnsouth at 8:53 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by headnsouth at 8:53 AM on May 18, 2011
Nice idea, but I don't like the way this is presented at all.
- Crop regions are not the same as states.
- Most of the display is a map of states you don't live in.
- The data is incomplete, possibly wrong.
- Tacky Flash interface makes it impossible to copy information or link.
I don't think this is meant to be a comprehensive database of every last growing thing on God's green earth (or at least the American part of said earth). "Here's some things fresh in your area!" the Flash application exclaimed happily, unaware of its imminent upbraiding and reproof by the Interweb commenter.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:04 AM on May 18, 2011 [3 favorites]
The data is not "possibly wrong," it's wrong. No way will I be eating Maine strawberries in May. I guess you could maybe grow strawberries here in a heated greenhouse, but that kinda negates the whole "seasonal" thing.
On the flip: cool idea!
posted by that's candlepin at 9:05 AM on May 18, 2011
On the flip: cool idea!
posted by that's candlepin at 9:05 AM on May 18, 2011
This is cool but Tennessee just says "Asparagus" whereas other Southern states have many more things, so it seems incomplete. For example, I know local strawberries are in season.
No self-respecting person eats strawberries from TN. It's Florida, all day ev'ry day during strawberry season. Which started way back in February. We even have a big festival every year to celebrate the flavor of fun!
Pity North Dakota - nothing but cabbage from October through June. Except for January, February and March, during which I assume North Dakotans survive on their stockpiled cabbages.
Suck it, North Dakotans! This month alone, we have:
blueberries
cantaloupe
corn
cucumbers
eggplant
mangoes
peppers
strawberries
tomatoes
and watermelons
Look, it's not often FL wins at a post, okay? Usually we get linked for Teh Stupid. Let me have my moment.
posted by misha at 9:05 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
No self-respecting person eats strawberries from TN. It's Florida, all day ev'ry day during strawberry season. Which started way back in February. We even have a big festival every year to celebrate the flavor of fun!
Pity North Dakota - nothing but cabbage from October through June. Except for January, February and March, during which I assume North Dakotans survive on their stockpiled cabbages.
Suck it, North Dakotans! This month alone, we have:
blueberries
cantaloupe
corn
cucumbers
eggplant
mangoes
peppers
strawberries
tomatoes
and watermelons
Look, it's not often FL wins at a post, okay? Usually we get linked for Teh Stupid. Let me have my moment.
posted by misha at 9:05 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
Asparagus and rhubarb. Yep, that's about right for Minnesota in May. And I haven't lived in my house long enough to have had time to get a good crop of either of these going yet.
I miss California's long growing season and look forward to turning my basement into a big grow room some day--I've been doing hydroponic herb gardening all winter and it's easy (if a little futzy) and incredibly productive.
posted by padraigin at 9:09 AM on May 18, 2011
I miss California's long growing season and look forward to turning my basement into a big grow room some day--I've been doing hydroponic herb gardening all winter and it's easy (if a little futzy) and incredibly productive.
posted by padraigin at 9:09 AM on May 18, 2011
Cool, but since we are nitpicking:
It doesn't seem updated to current growing conditions. In Oregon it's been cool and raining so there aren't strawberries around yet (well, there are green ones which are great to tart up a salad.) Otherwise I really like this concept and think it is worth pursuing.
There's a nice local magazine here Edible Portland (They don't seem to have this posted online so I've linked to the seasonal recipes section) which has a page listing everything available at a given time. Very cool.
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:10 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
It doesn't seem updated to current growing conditions. In Oregon it's been cool and raining so there aren't strawberries around yet (well, there are green ones which are great to tart up a salad.) Otherwise I really like this concept and think it is worth pursuing.
There's a nice local magazine here Edible Portland (They don't seem to have this posted online so I've linked to the seasonal recipes section) which has a page listing everything available at a given time. Very cool.
posted by elwoodwiles at 9:10 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Crop regions are not the same as states.
One of the things I learned in school as a wee immlass is that Texas has six geographical regions (complete with salt dough map representing them). Shouldn't that mean there are six growing regions?
posted by immlass at 9:20 AM on May 18, 2011
One of the things I learned in school as a wee immlass is that Texas has six geographical regions (complete with salt dough map representing them). Shouldn't that mean there are six growing regions?
posted by immlass at 9:20 AM on May 18, 2011
Sadly, as of this week at the local farmers' market it was just meat, eggs, and lots of plants (the kind you put in the ground, not the kind you eat immediately). We had more rain this April than in any April in recorded history, so planting's been delayed and what has been planted isn't ready to harvest yet.
... I totally remember getting strawberries this time last year, though.
posted by asperity at 9:30 AM on May 18, 2011
... I totally remember getting strawberries this time last year, though.
posted by asperity at 9:30 AM on May 18, 2011
"Here's some things fresh in your area!" the Flash application exclaimed happily
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
posted by swift at 9:36 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
posted by swift at 9:36 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Here's some things fresh in your area!" the Flash application exclaimed happily
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
"Ow!" cried the Flash application, no longer happily. "Why are you so mean? I just wanted you to think about all the fresh, fresh cabbage!"
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:41 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
"Ow!" cried the Flash application, no longer happily. "Why are you so mean? I just wanted you to think about all the fresh, fresh cabbage!"
posted by GenjiandProust at 9:41 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Maybe not supposed to be a comprehensive list, but no chiles in New Mexico? That's like no corn in Iowa or no potatoes in Idaho.
posted by Killick at 9:51 AM on May 18, 2011
posted by Killick at 9:51 AM on May 18, 2011
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
posted by swift
"I," mumbled the Flash application, "will take your moniker to be an allusion to Jonathan Swift and therefore your otherwise alarming, hurtful statement to be satiric." The application was deep in both denial and passive-aggression and may be forgiven for living, despite its Interweb-based, 21st Century modernity, mostly in 19th Century literature, thusly unaware of such 20th Century psychobabble.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:59 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by swift
"I," mumbled the Flash application, "will take your moniker to be an allusion to Jonathan Swift and therefore your otherwise alarming, hurtful statement to be satiric." The application was deep in both denial and passive-aggression and may be forgiven for living, despite its Interweb-based, 21st Century modernity, mostly in 19th Century literature, thusly unaware of such 20th Century psychobabble.
posted by Celsius1414 at 9:59 AM on May 18, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have a friend that grows (and sells, for a surprising amount of money) organic asparagus, one of the things in season around here right now. My father helped him move something recently, and as part of a thank-you, we received a nice large bundle of that asparagus. Let me tell you, having never had local, freshly-harvested-from-someone's-yard asparagus before and being one of those perverse people that loves asparagus, I was blown away. He also grows a few different types of lettuce (all but one of which I'd never had before - I never knew I'd actually like lettuce on its own and not as a filler ingredient) and Swiss Chard. Because of him, sometime soon, I hope to be one of those sources of fresh veggies for friends.
Anyway. Been looking for something like this. Not only will it help me when it comes time to visit the farmer's market, it'll help me plan a surprise for my mother the next time I see her. Yay and thanks!
posted by neewom at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2011
Anyway. Been looking for something like this. Not only will it help me when it comes time to visit the farmer's market, it'll help me plan a surprise for my mother the next time I see her. Yay and thanks!
posted by neewom at 10:41 AM on May 18, 2011
It looks like it still needs work to become more accurate and specific, but I think the general concept is useful and good, and I hope they will continue to work on the map to make it better. Too many people, especially people in urban areas who grew up thinking food comes from the grocery store, really have no idea at all what ought to be in season in their area when.
So in my view, even something this simplistic can be a good thing. Even without up-to-the-week weather and crop data, I think this map will at least give people who aren't that familiar with the locavore / seasonal food scene a good general introduction to the concept.
(And now I'm really, really wishing I had gotten around to planting asparagus in my garden. At least I had fresh-from-the-backyard baby spinach with lunch.)
posted by BlueJae at 11:05 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
So in my view, even something this simplistic can be a good thing. Even without up-to-the-week weather and crop data, I think this map will at least give people who aren't that familiar with the locavore / seasonal food scene a good general introduction to the concept.
(And now I'm really, really wishing I had gotten around to planting asparagus in my garden. At least I had fresh-from-the-backyard baby spinach with lunch.)
posted by BlueJae at 11:05 AM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
No self-respecting person eats strawberries from TN. It's Florida, all day ev'ry day during strawberry season. Which started way back in February. We even have a big festival every year to celebrate the flavor of fun!
My mother will fight you with an army of delicious North Carolina strawberries.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:37 PM on May 18, 2011
My mother will fight you with an army of delicious North Carolina strawberries.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 2:37 PM on May 18, 2011
I love it. It's a totally great idea, and a good start, but there is so much variation in climates that this seems not realistic. All of California mashed together? Really? Here's what came in our SF Bay Area CSA box, from Full Belly Farm in Guinda, CA:
This week: Fava beans, Arichokes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Bok choi, Oregano, Salad mix.
Last week: Asparagus, Broccoli, Green Garlic, Sugar Snap Peas, Collards, Bok choi, Sage, Salad mix.
Epicurious map: Apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums raspberries, strawberries.
The only overlap is strawberries & asparagus. According to epicurious, there are no green things this month, and I'm still doggedly trying to finish all the greens that come in our box each week before the next box arrives. I'm looking at the peach tree outside my front window, and the little green things still have several weeks to go. So yeah, great idea, but the execution is not (yet) there. Maybe, instead, they could do something based on surveys of local farms, and you can roll your mouse over a location and see everything growing within X miles. That'd be way cool!
posted by quinoa at 3:44 PM on May 18, 2011
This week: Fava beans, Arichokes, Strawberries, Broccoli, Bok choi, Oregano, Salad mix.
Last week: Asparagus, Broccoli, Green Garlic, Sugar Snap Peas, Collards, Bok choi, Sage, Salad mix.
Epicurious map: Apricots, artichokes, asparagus, cherries, nectarines, peaches, plums raspberries, strawberries.
The only overlap is strawberries & asparagus. According to epicurious, there are no green things this month, and I'm still doggedly trying to finish all the greens that come in our box each week before the next box arrives. I'm looking at the peach tree outside my front window, and the little green things still have several weeks to go. So yeah, great idea, but the execution is not (yet) there. Maybe, instead, they could do something based on surveys of local farms, and you can roll your mouse over a location and see everything growing within X miles. That'd be way cool!
posted by quinoa at 3:44 PM on May 18, 2011
This isn't perfect; it certainly doesn't get everything, but it isn't bad in the areas of my experience shopping at farmer's markets (VA, NYC, SW MI, Central CA).
One thing that was interesting to me when I moved to Fresno (from whence I have escaped, thank goodness) is that Fresno is weird and backward farmer's market-wise. You can seriously get a supermarket produce section's breadth of vegetables there most of the winter, but during the summer, when it's 100 degrees plus or minus five degrees for several months, the plants eventually just give up, lay down and die. So at the height of summer in Fresno, while everyone else is enjoying tomatoes and corn in abundance, we could get the corn, but tomatoes sometimes entirely stop setting fruit.
We could get stone fruit from May to October though. And I've never had better apricots. The breadth of grape varieties was wonderful, too. I thought apricots were overrated and that grapes were pretty boring before I lived in California.
posted by jocelmeow at 5:48 PM on May 18, 2011
One thing that was interesting to me when I moved to Fresno (from whence I have escaped, thank goodness) is that Fresno is weird and backward farmer's market-wise. You can seriously get a supermarket produce section's breadth of vegetables there most of the winter, but during the summer, when it's 100 degrees plus or minus five degrees for several months, the plants eventually just give up, lay down and die. So at the height of summer in Fresno, while everyone else is enjoying tomatoes and corn in abundance, we could get the corn, but tomatoes sometimes entirely stop setting fruit.
We could get stone fruit from May to October though. And I've never had better apricots. The breadth of grape varieties was wonderful, too. I thought apricots were overrated and that grapes were pretty boring before I lived in California.
posted by jocelmeow at 5:48 PM on May 18, 2011
Neat idea, but not accurate at all. For instance, for May in Missouri (all of it):
asparagus--Sure!
beets--Well, maybe . . . if you got started real early . . . baby ones . . .
broccoli--Um, no
Brussels sprouts--Absolutely not; they need a frost on the sprouts before they're ready
cherries--Sorry, not until June
cauliflower--Nope
gooseberries--What, you smoking crack? No.
leeks--No, not those either
scallions--Yes! Although mine are already past, but sure, some late ones
spinach--This too!
So. A bit off-base. To be polite about it.
posted by miss patrish at 7:27 PM on May 18, 2011
asparagus--Sure!
beets--Well, maybe . . . if you got started real early . . . baby ones . . .
broccoli--Um, no
Brussels sprouts--Absolutely not; they need a frost on the sprouts before they're ready
cherries--Sorry, not until June
cauliflower--Nope
gooseberries--What, you smoking crack? No.
leeks--No, not those either
scallions--Yes! Although mine are already past, but sure, some late ones
spinach--This too!
So. A bit off-base. To be polite about it.
posted by miss patrish at 7:27 PM on May 18, 2011
Okay, now I just want to stomp it in the face.
posted by swift
"I," mumbled the Flash application, "will take your moniker to be an allusion to Jonathan Swift and therefore your otherwise alarming, hurtful statement to be satiric." The application was deep in both denial and passive-aggression and may be forgiven for living, despite its Interweb-based, 21st Century modernity, mostly in 19th Century literature, thusly unaware of such 20th Century psychobabble.
Marvin: You can blame the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation for making androids with GPP...
Arthur: Um... what's GPP?
Marvin: Genuine People Personalities. I'm a personality prototype. You can tell, can't you...?
posted by misha at 9:12 PM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by swift
"I," mumbled the Flash application, "will take your moniker to be an allusion to Jonathan Swift and therefore your otherwise alarming, hurtful statement to be satiric." The application was deep in both denial and passive-aggression and may be forgiven for living, despite its Interweb-based, 21st Century modernity, mostly in 19th Century literature, thusly unaware of such 20th Century psychobabble.
Marvin: You can blame the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation for making androids with GPP...
Arthur: Um... what's GPP?
Marvin: Genuine People Personalities. I'm a personality prototype. You can tell, can't you...?
posted by misha at 9:12 PM on May 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
Problem: Massachusetts in May: Nothing, eat your root veggies. New Hampshire in May: artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb. Vermont in May: same as New Hampshire. Connecticut in May: Spinach and Lettuce. Rhode Island in May: asparagus, collard greens, ginger, rhubarb, etc.
Why can you grow things in every state surrounding Massachusetts, but not in the state itself? Yes, rocks are the most abundant crop, but they're not the only one. And once you get past the 495 belt it really is rather rural.
Given this mistake or what have you, I'm not so sure about this entire project.
posted by Hactar at 3:25 AM on May 19, 2011
Why can you grow things in every state surrounding Massachusetts, but not in the state itself? Yes, rocks are the most abundant crop, but they're not the only one. And once you get past the 495 belt it really is rather rural.
Given this mistake or what have you, I'm not so sure about this entire project.
posted by Hactar at 3:25 AM on May 19, 2011
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