Did you know that Salty’s is a huge supporter of many of our local farmers? Some of our vegetables are organic as well. We were also one of the first restaurants in Seattle to compost. For about a decade, our scraps have been picked up and mixed into good dirt that goes back to local farms as organic material that they use to grow their crops, that we buy and use to prepare our food, that you eat and then we compost scraps again — it goes full circle!

July is a fabulous time in the Northwest because there is so much local bounty that is simply fresh! Our gardens are blooming and growing and we are diggin’ it. If you don’t have a green thumb and aren’t growing your own, then go to Salty’s and see what these delectable delights should taste like. If you want to experiment on your own, our wonderful neighborhood farmers markets have a plethora of earthly delights. Even at good grocery stores, we can find our local farmers proudly represented. The really great thing is that the report from the green grocers is that the local stuff goes first. Yeah for that!

So why should we care where our produce comes from? Does it make a difference? The goal of being able to eat vegetables at their freshest is that the vitamins, flavor and texture, color and beauty are at their optimum. When a fruit is able to ripen completely on the vine, it can draw the maximum nutrients and flavor from the sun and the soil. Once picked, a vegetable can only draw on its own reserves. Food that is picked far away and shipped long distance must be picked early (somewhat unripe) to prevent bruising and lack of freshness. This may mean a week or more of trucking and transfers and ripening off the vine. When you buy from local farmers, your produce may have been picked that morning! Think about how much longer it will last and how much better it will taste.

“Keep your fruits and vegetables in separate bags as they can cause ripening issues when mixed.”

Here are some great tips for keeping your produce fresh: Make sure that your refrigerator is set at about 40 degrees. Keep your fruits and vegetables in separate bags as they can cause ripening issues when mixed. You can buy great plastic bags for storing produce, but you can also make your own by punching holes in them (similar to apple bags). In most cases, it is best to wash your fruits and vegetables just before you use them. Here are for more tips.

There is no better time to experience the best of the fresh. The bounty is here at Salty’s, come enjoy! (Photos courtesy of Full Circle farm.)