Fresh from reading Michael Pollan’s masterfully executed book, The Omnivore’s Dilemma, I felt compelled to share excerpts from Chad Midgley’s weekly advance report of his winter market offerings, featured previously in The Selective Echo. Midgley certainly epitomizes the independent, socially conscientious grower celebrated extensively throughout Pollan’s missive. And, amidst this dreary phase of winter weather, it is a rare blessing indeed to have access to such wonderful produce. Hardly deterred by weather or by a manageable medical problem, the young gentleman farmer from Bountiful and his wife, Tya, dutifully appear nearly every Saturday in downtown between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Avenues Bakery location.

I share highlights from his report this week:

What is available — more than 15 dozen eggs from chickens who are truly free-range birds, lots of frost-sweetened carrots, leeks, beets, locally-raised apples, onions and potatoes from Layton, Cara Cara oranges, red and yellow tomatoes, sweet grape tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, gypsy peppers, shallots, locally grown blue potatoes along with local winter squash.

His missive also reflects many of the themes evident in Pollan’s book. I quote directly from Chad’s report (complete with exclamation points) without further editing:

“LET’S TALK ABOUT CHANGE!: Change where green eggs look good!! Farmers’ Markets go all year round!! Change from harvesting only from 9 to 5 (June-October), Change from having just a summer CSA that anybody can do!! Change from having parsnips that don’t taste good because you’rE supposeD to wait until the winter time to harvest. Change from HIGH supermarket prices to our non-scary Farmers’ Market prices with a variety of items!! Change from being able to bring your plastic bags, egg cartons, gallon jugs, kitchen waste, for recycling, etc., to a Farmers’ Market without a weird look.”

It’s a worthwhile passion that certainly deserves the support of Utah consumers. Chad also will return to the downtown farmer’s market in June when it reopens for the summer season at Pioneer Park.