Brace Yourself for Abundant Midlands Produce: Winter is Coming

By Eme Crawford
December 20, 2013

Eme Crawford advocates for a healthier and more fiscally responsible South Carolina through her work with Tell Them (www.tellthemsc.org) where she’s the Manager of Social Media and Online Mobilization and through coordinating Soda City Farmers’ Market’s (www.sodacitysc.com) social media.

When I hear that weather man say it’s the end of the growing season, I just wanna smack him, Wendy Eleazer from Eleazer Farm told me recently.

Why?  Because as a Midlands farmer, it’s always a growing season for something.  

Unlike, say, our neighbors in Greenville and Charleston, whose markets close in October and the end of December respectively, Columbia’s Soda City Farmers’ Market is able to operate year round thanks to farmers like Eleazer Farm, Crooked Cedar Farm, and City Roots who grow interesting produce 365 days a year no matter what the weather man says.

Here’s a taste of the unique and local produce you can find during the winter season:

1.    Jerusalem artichokes from Eleazer Farm:  Initially when I saw a pile of Jerusalem artichokes on Eleazer’s table I thought they were ginger roots.  These little tubers taste similar to a potato crossed with jimaca, and as long as you scrub them, they don’t need to be peeled—which would be a major pain.  Ask Wendy for her Jerusalem artichoke soup recipe—it’s hearty and perfect for the cold weather coming our way.

2.    Kale from Crooked Cedar: Before kale hit its super-trendy stride as a superfood with cancer fighting properties, I learned about the different varieties of kale through Edwina and Selvin: Red Russian kale, Premier kale, Lacinato kale, Siberian kale, Dwarf Blue Curled kale, Rainbow Lacinato kale…you get it.  My favorite is Red Russian kale—it’s more tender than other kales and it has beautiful purple markings.

3.    Amaranth microgreens from City Roots: You know how everyone’s been on a quinoa kick for the past few years (those same people who have been on kale kicks)?  I predict amaranth to be the next big trend.  And after that, amaranth microgreens.  These delicately tangy and sweet microgreens can be used in a salad or with fish or really with anything. 

Above photo credit City Roots

You can find this produce and more at the Soda City Farmers’ Market all year round, rain or shine on the 1400-1500 blocks of Main Street on Saturday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm.

This weekly food column is curated by Tracie Broom, who serves on the board at Slow Food Columbia(http://www.slowfoodcola.org), publishes The Yum Diary, and is a founding partner at Flock and Rally: Events + Communications for a Brave New South. Follow her at @theyumdiary on Twitter. 

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