I know how fortunate I am to live in San Diego. Not just because of the beautiful blue skies, sunshine, and palm trees…
…or the flowers that grow year-round here…
Saw this rose on a run the other day and went back with my camera.
…but it’s a blessing that fruits and vegetables of all kinds, including avocados, are grown locally here.
Including the four, locally grown avocados that I received from California Avocados Direct.
The California Avocados Direct farm is a family-owned and operated farm of the Holtz family. It has been in operation for decades, spanning three generations, and it’s located about a half hour north of where I live.
The farm in 1973
The farm in 2010
Do you know what’s amazing about these avocados? And I’m not just talking about their taste…
…but these avocados were only touched by Ben Holtz and no one else!
Here is a photo of him hand-picking my avocados from the orchard last week with this caption: “Today is a rather mild cool day on the ranch. I am hoping for more warmer weather so the bee’s are excited to get out and pollinate the avocado blossoms.”
Does that just blow your mind that I can literally see where my food came from just up the road from me? It does mine, in a wonderful way!
In this era of food flown in from California (if you don’t live here), Mexico, South America, or all over the world, and touched by dozens or hundreds of people in the food supply chain from field to grocery store, the fact that no one else touched these avocados besides Ben, and Mother Nature, until I opened the box, is amazing to me.
It makes me want to do more to support local agriculture and local farmers and because I do live in San Diego, I can do that with great ease.
For example, here are some pictures I took last summer from the Hillcrest Farmer’s Market. Every Sunday, year round, this amazing market is open offering locally grown and organic or pesticide-free food.
Lots more photos here of the local produce bounty in my area.But back to my avocados. What should I make with my avocados?
They are still ripening so I have time to decide.
I could make guacamole. Or my “Cheater’s” Guacamole with them.
But these avocados seem too special to “cheat” with and I may need to make more traditional guac with these gems.
They would probably make wonderful Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse
No one ever suspects that avocados are the staple ingredient in the mousse. No one.
I bring it to parties and fool everyone who thinks the mousse is full of eggs and butter or that it took a long time to make. Wrong! Four ingredients, five minutes, vegan.
Avocados are a source of healthy fats and do a body good.
If you’re interested in buying avocados and supporting the Holtz family farm and California Avocados Direct, please see their website and they can ship them to you.
Also, Matt Armendariz, photographer extraordinaire, with whom I did the food styling and photography workshop, also posted about a recent trip that he took to the California Avocados Direct farm.
And my friend Gaby of What’s Gaby Cooking, was with Matt on that trip to the farm and she also posted about it. They both have great pictures of their day at the farm in their posts.
From my last post about Whirling Around, yes, it was a manic day, indeed.
Questions:
1. Do you support local agriculture in any way? Having a CSA share (community supported agriculture), shopping at your local farmer’s market, buying from local fruit or vegetable stands, or even growing your own produce?
If you’re interesting in CSA’s or joining one in your area, here’s a great link.
As I said, I do what I can do buy locally. However, we all must do what we can given the constraints of our budgets. For example, there are times when TJ’s sells blueberries at half the cost of what blueberries at the farmer’s market are, but that reinforces that sometimes it is more expensive to buy locally grown, pesticide-free food that isn’t flown in from 5000 miles away where the standards are much different on everything from paying the laborers living wages to crop spraying practices.
Also, I realize it’s not easy to eat local if you live in North Dakota in the winter. It’s a good thought, but again, you have to do what you can and what works for you given your geographical area, needs, budget, and so forth.
I am not much of a gardener, and have tried container gardening, but so far, I have been bitten by the gardening bug. The photography bug is more like it.
2. Do you like avocados?
Yes! Silly question!
3. What’s your favorite way to use avocados or fave recipes?
I admit, other than guac, chocolate mousse, massaging them into greens as a salad dressing, or making other basic sauces/dressings with them, I just like to slice them and eat them plain on salads. Simplicity is best for me.
Any great avo recipes or creative uses?
My favorite local food grower to support: ME! I need to get my butt in gear and plant my veggies.
I’m still waiting for the local avocados to drop below a buck apiece. I occasionally get a deal on the “over-ripe veggie bargain rack”, but not regularly. I want chocolate avocado mousse!
How did you score those?! I love CA avocados. Mmmm. I worked the info booth at the Hillcrest Farmers Market last year and loveddd eating all that delicious, locally grown fruit and veggies every Sunday!
no way?? well if you’re working there again, lmk…I live practically on top of the market….Im sure close! and last summer, was there practically every sunday!
I am a HUGE locavore. From food to local businesses, I try to support the community as often as I can. I’m especially passionate about the animal products I eat being local, since it eliminates a lot of the issues I have with environmentalism and humanity (or lack thereof) in the meat and dairy industry. We have pretty great farmer’s markets in PA, but I am envious of the year-round Cali produce and the huge variety you have!
And I’m allergic to avocados : (
locavore. love it!
sorry you’re allergic to avos…sigh. I know it’s actually a fairly common allergy in allergy circles/online groups Im a part of.
I’m in the peach state and am pretty sure I haven’t seen a local peach ever. I could use a good avacado! I love guac
What? No peaches in the peach state? crazy!
The mousse gets my vote for your avocados :] Maybe because it’s the only way I like avos, but I digress ;) Either way – I can totally appreciate good farming, and that is so awesome that they came straight from Ben’s farm to you. As I type, I have strawberries sitting in my fridge from California. Given that I’m all the way across the continent, I’m not sure I want to think about how many hands they’ve passed through…but I just can’t wait until berry season is finally here!!
I do what I can to buy locally, too. Nothing makes me feel better than not only supporting local farms but also knowing my food came from just a short distance away…but sometimes it’s just not affordable. I try to split it up about half-way; buy half my fruits and veggies from the farmer’s market, other half from the grocery store. Better than nothing :]
I like to buy as much as I can local, and what I can’t buy local I buy in season, organic and sort of local (like, instead of buying the mangoes from Mexico I’ll buy the lettuce from Washington and the apples from BC, though sometimes I’ll buy the mangoes if they look good and are on sale. I’m not perfect but I do my best). I used to be involved with a CSA type thing but was just for a limited time. I really want to get back into it, though. It’s so much cheaper for me than to buy stuff in the store! Also I absolutely looove going to farmer’s markets.
I’m not a huge fan of avocados, or at least I wasn’t until now. I had no idea that they were that good for you! I mean, I knew they were a good source of fat but they’re so much better than just that! Thanks, Averie! Also, I feel like banana mango soft serve would be really good. Maybe not. I don’t know. Something about creamy, frozen fats sounds delicious to me.
I like avocado dressings (like ginger avocado dressing on a kale salad. Omg. Best thing ever) and guac. I’m not really into eating them whole unless they’re in rice paper wraps or something.
Awesome–I miss living in CA for just this reason, and HI was even better in that regard: I barely bought food at all.
Those avos: probably creamy but with good moisture content too, probably slightly less on the sweet side. Perfect for guac or just simple slices with tomato, like a carpaccio. But chocolate mousse is always a great idea too!
I love that you’re making a connection with the individual farmer.
I love to support farmers and grow as much of my own food as poss too.
I knew you’d know the exact variety and what it was like..thank you for the info!
I love avocados so much! My mom grew up in CA and had avocado trees in her back yard…she used to just climb on up and pick them! My very favorite way to eat avocado is just by itself.. maybe with a touch of salt and lime juice. so so so good!
Those are some beautiful avocados! I once was able to visit an organic avocado farm and it was such an awesome experience. I got to see how the avocados grow from seedling to tree – and they were yummy!
I try and support local agriculture by going to farmers markets. I also worked at an olive oil shop that sold 85% local products.
I like to use avocado on toast or make an avocado milkshake.
“Today is a rather mild cool day on the ranch. I am hoping for more warmer weather so the bee’s are excited to get out and pollinate the avocado blossoms.” – This brings a smile to my face ! I always try to support local farmers whenever possible.
I LOVE avocados! You’re so lucky!
I just can’t eat them. I’ve tried and I just don’t like them. I do support local farmers and since we have been eating seasonally this year, it really has helped us learn more about the local/seasonal produce.
how amazing to live in California – i’ve always wanted to live some place that can grow delicious healthy fruits and veggies all year round, you are truly blessed!
That is awesome. I looove avocados. I think it’s awesome that they grow where you live. I shop locally a lot. I bought a ton(almost literally, haha) of local wheat, I buy eggs and meat that are 100% local. And in the spring/summer/fall I shop at the farmers market. Even if it is a little more expensive, it’s much fresher, much closer to organic that conventional produce at the grocery store and it’s from people I know. To me, it’s not just about getting good food it’s about building relationships with people in town. Obviously, I don’t go nuts and I only get what I can afford, and some people price they’re produce totally crazy, but it’s definitely something special to me. We also have our own garden that it actually pretty big. Can’t wait to get planting in about a month :D Actually I have an avocado tree in my house that I started a couple years ago. I’m sure I’ll never get anything from it, but I just like how it looks :D
avo tree…awesome!!
Oh that’s so cool! I wish I was home enough to take advantage of a CSA! I’ve started dragging Colin to farmers markets though!
I love avocados and I love local San Diego farmers markets. It’s that time of year for the farmers markets and I am so excited. I just went on Sunday to the one downtown, I love talking to the growers and finding out what is to come and all the safe products they use on my produce. I am now a subscriber to your blog, I am excited to see what’s to come. Gotta support my local San Diego girls!
Supporting local food. And bloggers. It’s a great thing…thank you :)