Fresh caught Fish for dinner?

Grow my own vegetables? 

Not so much ?  Not a problem.

Thankfully here in Massachusetts, we have a number of terrific options for shopping locally available foodstuffs produced, grown or caught that couldn’t be fresher. For Peppers Chefs, it doesn't get any better than bringing in the bounty that is available from local farms during our brief growing season. As an added bonus, procuring these enticing offerings have a very low carbon footprint, are more nutritious & tasteful than products trucked in a week from harvest out West and participating, supports our growing local farmers who grow sustainable food.

Farmers markets are available on a daily basis seemingly within 10-15 minutes drive of nearly everyone and the offerings vary from vegetables, locally produced jams, farmstead cheeses, salsas, artisan breads, honey, beeswax, soaps, chutneys and so much more, depending on the popularity of the location.

Finding a local farmers market is easily available from a simple Google search or visiting the www.massfarmersmarkets.org website. 

One other idea that is catching interest on in the world of special events is choosing a local farm for the location of a Green Wedding or a Garden Wedding.

Our sources for local chevre cheese has expressed that her pasture would be available to host a catered affair. If you love the idea of viewing playful goats

during the cocktail hour, this may be perfect and unique.

A great way to get the freshest produce to your family table and support local farmers is to buy shares in a Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA ) program that allows a participant buys shares in a farm and receives a certain amount of fresh, locally grown food every week. There are over 60 farms in Massachusetts that are offering such an enticing program, helping sustain local farmers with a guaranteed income to sustain their expenses and bridging the gap from producer to your table.

A most exciting &  innovative CSA program that has been started by the Gloucester Fishermen’s Wives Association is the Cape Ann Fresh Catch. Now this is cool.

Were talking about the fresh & locally sustainable seafood available from our north shore. Starting on Sept. 6, and running for 10 weeks, you can purchase shares and receive fresh caught local fish, delivered to a local drop. It’s the catch of the day.

Currently nearly 18 stops are in the plans and an area could put together 80 members, a weekly new site may be established (40 members for a bi-weekly delivery.

10 Minutes from Peppers Catering’ kitchen is Heirloom Harvest Community Farm where we’ll be seen picking up our fish for personal use. While from week to week we’ll not be sure what the catch will bring, for those with a knife skill challenge, they offer a filet of fish option. Whole fish has the advantage of giving you the frame (skeleton) in which to make a delicious broth to be used in your favorite fish sauce or stew.

See the www.capeannfreshcatch.org for addition information and a location for pick up near you.