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Pumpkin Season
Fall is the perfect time of year to put into practice
the "everything but the oink" adage — the season's portly
pumpkins go from seed to porch to pot to soil. Once you've picked the
ideal gourd from market, use its meat for pies, its seeds for roasting
and snacking (or planting), its emptied shell for Jack-o'-Lanterning,
and if it can survive Halloween pranksters, deposit the pumpkin into
your soil beds or compost heap for your garden's trick-or-treat.
October 26, 2009
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The Satsuma
As the namesake of towns in Florida, Alabama, Texas and Louisiana,
the satsuma is arguably the South's ultimate citrus star, though
Louisianians might claim their particular crop tops its contemporaries. With origins in China and Japan, the orange spinoff crop (also known as
a mikan) proved highly successful in southern weather and adapted well
to (and sweetened in) colder conditions.
September 28, 2009
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Scuppernong
a southern grape
Since its discovery by Sir Walter Raleigh in the 1500s,
the muscadine grape — also known as the Southern Fox grape or
Scuppernong — has carried the title as the quintessential
Southern grape. From North Carolina, the muscadine quickly trickled
down the hot and humid Southeast coast and pursued a western course
through Texas.
August 17, 2009
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Water, Water, Everywhere
Last week, Farmerville hosted its 46th annual Watermelon Festival,
complete with a seed-spitting contest and crowning of the 2009 Miss
Louisiana Watermelon. One lucky melon won in the Best Dressed category.
July 27, 2009
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A Hard Day's Nightshade
The globetrotting eggplant — whether it's the familiar purple,
lavender, striped or white variety — has provided dozens of
cultures a bulbous, vegetarian-friendly meat alternative for centuries. With its roots in Indian and Chinese cuisine from as early as 500 B.C.,
its meat-replacing takeover extended into Europe via Moors in Spain and
Arabs in Italy.
June 29, 2009
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Squash It to Me
In the salad days of early summer, a solid crop of goofy yellow
miniatures rolls out at the markets. Farmers start to unload tender,
young, vine-ripened summer squashes, including yellow and crookneck
squash, along with zucchini — perfect for firing up on the grill
alongside kebabs and grilled fish.
May 26, 2009
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Seeing Red
Though we haven't yet entered the peak of summer produce season, a
certain vegetable (or fruit — but actually a seed) may start
peeking its bright red bulb and pronounced corona around your friendly
neighborhood farmers market. The Creole tomato — the vegetable of
Louisiana (officially named in 2003) — is native only to the
southeastern part of the state.
April 20, 2009
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Fava, Can You Spare a Dime?
Fava beans are the stuff of legend — from the titular bean in
Jack and the Beanstalk to Sicily's legume-in-shining armor. The
bean is said to have saved Sicilians from starvation during an intense
drought (to which bean offerings on St. Joseph's Day alters in March
gave thanks).
March 30, 2009
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Purple, Gold and Collard Greens at the local markets
With spring around the corner, Louisiana's farmers uproot
late-winter harvests, which make perfect Southern sides for Mardi Gras
feasts. Turnip, mustard and collard greens are best when braised with
ham hocks or bacon in potlikker, the leftover broth from boiled greens.
February 16, 2009
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Greenspace: Louisiana Strawberries
Louisiana Strawberries January's hard-freeze warnings worried many in Louisiana's multimillion-dollar strawberry industry, but despite the harsh weather, some farmers were able to save their juicy wares.
January 26, 2009
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