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HOMEGROWN
Bringing local foods
WRITTEN BY KAY FAHEY |
The holiday season is upon us, with all the feasting that it entails. And this year it’s easier than ever to buy your supplies directly from the source. Simply by using local farmers you indulge yourself and your guests in delectable natural goodness grown within just a few miles of home. The benefits are obvious — the best products (humanely and naturally raised), minimal carbon footprint, and support for local agriculture. Best of all, you get to know the nice folks who provide the food, such as Nancy Dineen of Nancy’s Green Barn Farm in Dayton.
Her heritage turkeys are smaller, but have more character than the “Frankenstein” grocery store varieties, which are generally stuffed full of chemicals and water. Usually you have to order six months to a year in advance to obtain a bird locally, but Dineen’s farm has a few turkeys left. Dineen’s birds are naturally raised with an outdoor run. And don’t forget to order a holiday goose, too.
If you’re a fan of red meat for the holidays, you can bring delicious grass-fed beef and lamb into your home. Meats from Hannah Tangeman of Hulsman Ranch in Susanville, Calif., are at stores in Reno, Truckee, Susanville, and Quincy. In addition, the Lekumberry family at Ranch One offers grass-fed beef at its Genoa store, Trimmer Outpost. For tasty rabbit meat, try Cydney Harding of Fontana Farms in Reno. Other beef sources are Dennis and Laurie Marsh at KT Hay and Cattle Co. in Loyalton, Calif., and Jason Murry of Murry Ranch in Reno. Finally, don’t forget about Wolf Pack Meats in Reno for local beef and lamb. Facility Manager Mike Holcomb can help you with all your local meat needs.
LATE SEASON PRODUCE
Any number of local farms can supply you with excellent pumpkins for holiday pies. Lattin Farms in Fallon offers several varieties, including winter luxury and decorative Cinderella pumpkins. The Lattins also can provide sweet winter squash, such as delicata and butternut, for your holiday casseroles.
Apples (for baking with raisins and cinnamon) had a tough year in this area. For instance, Agape Organics in Washoe Valley experienced a 100 percent crop failure because of the weather. Fortunately, Apple Hill off Highway 50 near Placerville, Calif., offers eight organic orchards and a beautiful day trip. You’ll find numerous activities and vineyards as well as sun-ripened apples.
And potatoes — can’t do without those. In this area, Steve Sussler at Sussler Farms in Reno is a wonderful source for organic potatoes. He’ll have your table gleaming with roasted reds or mashed Yukon golds. Workman Farms in Fallon also has delicious, creamy potatoes.
Whether tucked inside tasty entrées or served as a garnish or side dish, onions always are a vital part of the holiday table. Peri & Sons Farms in Yerington offers white, yellow, red, and sweet onions, which can be found at Whole Foods Market in Reno.
For delicious, organic salad greens, try Hungry Mother Organics in Minden. The farm also has carrots, onions, potatoes, garlic, beets, and eggs in production.
For impeccably fresh organic veggies, call Virginia or Ray Johnson at Custom Gardens in Silver Springs. Load up on carrots and beets for roasting, sweet peas, and that holiday essential, sweet potatoes. You’ll also find mâche for salads, broccoli raab, and fresh baby ginger for delectable ginger cakes or ginger syrup to drizzle over ice cream.
EGGS AND WINE
You’re going to need eggs for all that holiday baking. To get local, farm-fresh eggs from heritage free-range birds, call Harding of Fontana Farms in Reno for an appointment. And look for their duck eggs at Whole Foods Market in Reno. Or contact friendly Dawn Spinola at Renoegg.com. Spinola offers delicious, fresh, grade AA eggs from happy, free-range chickens.
Finally, you’ll want interesting wines to enliven your festivities. For reds such as Barbera or whites such as Semillon, even a luscious ice wine for dessert, visit Rick and Kathy Halbardier, owners of Tahoe Ridge Winery in Minden. They also offer Cabernets, Chardonnays, and Merlots, all handcrafted to reflect their Nevada environment.
Colby Frey at Churchill Vineyards in Fallon is another commercial wine grower in Northern Nevada. You can pick up a bottle of Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet, or another varietal. Or swing by the Truckee River Winery in Truckee for a bottle of pinot gris, red table wine, old vine zinfandel, pinot noir, or dessert wine. Truckee River Winery’s grapes are not grown in Truckee. But Russ, Joan, and Katy Jones (with parttime help) produce and bottle right in Truckee. How about incorporating local beer into the feast? One option is to talk to Doug Booth and Dan Kahn of Buckbean Brewing Co. in Reno. You’ll find their beer in cans and kegs.
Support local farmers and food and drink producers this holiday season. There is no better way to celebrate our natural harvest. Reno resident Kay Fahey has written about cooking and restaurants for numerous publications, and has enjoyed every minute of it.
RECIPE
