MICHIGAN APPLES RIPE FOR THE PICKIN'

Apples are ready to be picked. 

Here we are in Michigan leaning toward the end of summer with about two weeks left. Our state has an awesome array of local fruit and veggies ripe for the  picking.

If you haven't tasted Michigan apples, now is the time.  The drought last year caused a lot of grief for farmers. Now their trees are laden with apples. Go pick.

The major chains sell produce from South America.  Farmers in the United States are having a rough time competing against the global economy. Our farmers, big and small, sell produce grown on their soil. There's a huge difference.  When we buy from our local farmers it gives them a chance to compete rather than go out of business.

Our children can pick vegetables that locally grown and they can learn to appreciate "home grown." When they help cook the food, they will talk about their experience and it will live on in their memory.

Our farmers generally do not genetically modify their food or use heavy hormones. One local farmer I know sells her grapes to Welches, which brings in their own crew to pick the crops. There's nothing like her grapes.

Let's remember that we are a community in Michigan. Let's buy from our farmers to keep our growers sustainable.