Reinventing your pick-your-own business

With the arrival of cooler nights and woollen mornings, the urge to get into the kitchen and whip up some delicious autumn classics is growing. Yes, it's pumpkin latte season (homemade, of course!) and apple crisp season! So this is the time of year when we turn to our significant other, eyes bulging and tete-a-tete, to negotiate our next autumn outing, which is as cliché as it is enjoyable - I call it pick-your-own! So, in this post, I've decided to share my best tips for making the most of late summer and its thousand and one pick-your-own options. Read on before you dive headfirst into squash indigestion and seal the sad fate of a few dozen surplus apples that may end up in the compost.

Apples and squash... But what else?

From one autumn to the next, we seem to forget, and the same observation is made again when we see the orchard full to bursting: we're sorely lacking in originality when it comes to our autumn pick-your-own activities!

To help me preserve my peace and quiet, I like to opt for a pick-your-own activity that's out of the ordinary and therefore less popular. Squash, pumpkins and apples are far from the only pick-your-own options. Okay, your mini may look at you funny when you tell her you're going pick-your-own... eggplant, but it makes a great ratatouille chive! Perfect for an autumn meal, and once frozen, can be enjoyed right through to winter. Here's a list of the fruits and vegetables you can still pick yourself in September:

• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Ground cherry
• Pear
• Apple
• Squash
• Pumpkin
• Eggplant
• Bell pepper
• Cabbage
• Tomato
• Corn

U-picking unusual fruits and vegetables promises to be your star activity of late summer! Not only because you'll learn a ton of new things, but also because wandering into a cornfield to find your evening supper is pretty unusual! It's also a great way to rediscover lesser-appreciated vegetables in the kitchen, or to swap gallons of applesauce for a homemade tomato sauce or squash compote that'll have you rolling on the floor! It's enough to change your routine!

Things to do before heading out to the fields

Once the whole family has chosen the pick-your-own star of the weekend - eggplant, of course (have faith) - there are a few simple steps to take before setting out to make the most of the experience. The idea here is to avoid gagging next year at the thought of eating eggplant, because you'll have forced yourself to eat the 8 kg you brought back for fear of wasting it. Here I'm talking about my experience a few years ago, after coming home with a wheelbarrow FULL to bursting with squash. I ate so much of it that fall that I wasn't even looking forward to the arrival of squash the following fall.

• Determine what you're going to get and organize the little extras that might be added by consulting the list of products available on the website of the farm you're going to visit.
• Plan what you want to do with your harvest.
• Set limits on how much you can bring back (it can be tempting to fill the wheelbarrow, but you must resist).
• Plan time on your return or the day after picking to process your harvest. I'll tell you right now, if you wait until you've got “time” to process your 10 kg of organic apples, the apples at the bottom of the bag may already be compote by the time you finally find time to cook them.
• Even better, find some friends to help you process them!

• All that's left is to bring your rain boots, reusable bags and containers, snacks and/or picnic and your camera to capture these wonderful moments (or the moment when your mini realizes that raw eggplant isn't the best thing).

   

On site

Don't be afraid to ask questions on the spot! The growers of these little gems are in the best position to advise you on the preparation, processing and preservation of the fruits and vegetables you'll be taking home! Take the opportunity to ask them about production methods and the different varieties grown in their fields. You'll be amazed at how much you'll learn in such a short time, and you'll want to visit their fields or stands more often in the next season of abundance. After all, a little detour to the market or farm stand isn't much of a sacrifice when you know what goes on behind the scenes. Cooking with food grown with love is sure to add a special touch to your dishes!

A few Montreal Public Markets merchants offering U-pick :

Domaine Villeneuve

• Pick your own: Apple
• Location: Saint-Joseph-du-Lac
• Website: www.vergerdomainevilleneuve.ca

Le Potager Mont-Rouge Halte Gourmande

• Pick your own: Strawberries, blueberries, apples, tomatoes, pumpkins, peppers, eggplant and basil.
• Location: Rougemont
• Website:  www.potagermont-rouge.ca 

Les Jardins d’Émilie

• Pick your own: Apples
• Location: Rougemont
• Website: www.vergerlesjardinsdemilie.com  

This article was written by Édith Ouellet, a professional nutritionist for whom healthy eating and sustainable eating are inseparable. With her very own 0% guilt-tripping style, she tries to influence people to adopt eating habits that are not only healthier, but also more respectful of the planet's health. Édith offers a brand-new course to support you in your efforts to eat local all year round. With recipes, tips, tricks and answers to all your questions, you'll learn the essentials for becoming a true locavore...even in Quebec!