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Jamming freshly picked berries into your life

Local, seasonal fruits get into the mix

by Rose Reisman

There's never a more delicious food to serve in July than an array of fresh berries. Blueberries, strawberries or raspberries can be added to your salads, main courses, grain dishes, desserts or simply enjoyed on their own. The best news is that they come fresh to our door from the Ontario Greenbelt. Berries are termed a “superfood,” which is full of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre. Berries are low in fat, carbohydrates and calories. They help protect our immune system and may even help prevent heart disease, dementia and certain cancers as well as slowing the aging process.

Strawberry & Spinach Salad

Blueberry & Mango Strudel

Lemon & Raspberry Couscous

Rose's tip: Pick your own!

The summer is the best time to forego the grocery store. Go pick your own fruits and berries at the farms around the GTA. They are fresher than the store-bought berries, since you are picking them yourself. They are often cheaper as well. A farm that I like is Whittamore’s Farm, just beside the Rouge River Valley in Markham, on Steeles. The 220-acre fruit and vegetable farm lets you pick your own fruits and veggies or, you can buy them at their little market, freshly picked that day. Get out of the city and let your whole family enjoy this little trip and find out how fruits and berries really grow. Kids can enjoy Fun Farm Yard or visit farm animals while you pick your harvest. They even do birthday parties, but bring your own cake.

Post City Magazines’ culinary columnist, Rose Reisman, is author of 17 cookbooks, a TV and radio personality and a health and wellness expert. Visit Rose at www.rosereisman.com.

This article appears in the July 2009 issue of Post City Magazines

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