Valley Bounty: Local Holiday Party

Welcome to the odd stretch of time between mid-November and early January that we refer to broadly with the euphemism, “The Holidays”. Whatever your personal and family traditions (and your level of enthusiasm) may be, this season almost invariably brings with it a host of social opportunities (and/or obligations)—some with close friends and family, and others with social circles we may not be as intimate with. Showing up to a party or potluck with a crowd-pleaser can seem a bit daunting, especially when commitments begin to stack up; fortunately, local farms have plenty to offer to make holiday entertaining a no-brainer.

When I’m short on time but still want to bring something nice to a get-together, I usually start by picking up a piece or two of local cheese (probably one on the harder, saltier side like cheddar or gruyere, and something creamier and tangier like goat cheese). Add in some local fruit like apples or pears, some local pickles, and a loaf of bread from a local bakery, and voila! You’ve gone from unprepared to the hit of the party—and you can probably pick all this up at a farm stand or local grocery near you. Let our local farms deal with the catering, and enjoy the holidays.

Valley Bounty is written by Brian Snell of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture).