The Southeastern Wisconsin approach to fresh food:
During the fall and early winter harvest season the local fresh, for produce is the following: gourds (i.e. squash, pumpkin, zucchini, etc.), and roots (carrot, onion, potato, garlic). The other nice thing is that from the inside window sill of you house you CAN actually grow herbs all year round. That is about it. So here it is about having a plan. Below is mine and where I go for help:
1. Farmers markets in my area are open outdoor April 1st to October 31st. You can learn how to preserve the freshness by talking and interacting with the farmers. Because of their help I can continue to eat fresh produce up until I run out, which is typically March. They have tried to find an indoor location for the winter months, but so far nothing has been a go.
2. Individual Farmers. Many, whom are present at the farmers market during the open season, also have stands and will give you their information to contact them for inventory or fresh meat and eggs during the winter. Also this mingling and friendship has assisted in educating me on growing plants of my own. THey are very willing to share their green thumb! I have found this to work wonderfully.
3. Shop your local Co-op’s. We are working on establishing one in Racine. I am proud to say I am one of the founding owners, supporting what I feel will be a great addition to my city. You can visit that more here:
http://wildrootmarket.com/
There are other Co-ops in the Kenosha and Milwaukee areas. One of my favorites is Woodman’s. Not only do they have local growers, they have huge ethnic sections and vegan/vegitarian sections of food.
4. Learn how to garden on your own. For some city dwellers this may not be an option, but in my communities there are community gardens during the summer months, and you are assigned a planting time, and a watering time, and a weeding time. All helpers split the produce grown. There are also the options of hanging baskets and pot for those with outdoor patios and balconies or aero gardens for those whom only have the inside to grow.
Learn to eat seasonally. Your body does adapt to it and originally was programmed to do it. What you will find is by July you will be craving corn and raspberries, and they will taste that much more fantastic fresh!