To the Greeks, summer is a time to enjoy fresh local produce and find ways to incorporate that in their meals. There are fresh salads with ripe tomatoes and cucumber. It is hard to visit a restaurant without eating watermelon for dessert. Or maybe you order a large plate of hortas or wild greens and enjoy it cold with your meal.

Perhaps you have memories of the ripe tomatoes of Greece. Or maybe you’ve never been to Greece and want to somehow capture that spirit no matter where you are. Well, it is possible, especially if you follow some simple guidelines.

Remember that the cuisine of Greece is closely tied to the land. They use the freshest ingredients. Even if some of those ingredients do not grow well in your area, you could still capture the spirit of the food if you resolve to find the tastiest, freshest local produce to use in your cooking and then learn to showcase those items with the dishes that you prepare and the seasonings you use.

Enjoying Fresh Produce at Home

Are you wondering how you can enjoy these foods at your home, whether you live in Greece or not? One of the most important things you can do is visit your local farm stand and purchase whatever is in season and grown by local farmers.

Case in point – I went to a farm stand the other day and purchased a pint of fresh strawberries that were there. They were ripe and sweet and pretty close to being the tastiest strawberries I’ve ever had. I encourage you to figure out what is in season and purchase it directly from the local farms. Locally grown produce that is fresh from the farm simply tastes better.

Learn About the Growing Seasons

In order to purchase fruits and vegetables that is in season you need to understand what grows well locally. For this, you may need to talk with some farmers and see which fruits and vegetables grow best and when they are available. Growing seasons differ in places throughout the world.

Certain climates may be more suitable to certain things. For example, oranges grow well in the warmer parts of California and also in Florida. However, they don’t do well in the desert or the cooler climates. So if you live in an area where the oranges are not grown locally, they will not taste as good as they would have if you picked it off a tree and ate it in its native climate.

If you follow this you will be on your way to creating the tastiest meals possible. As you follow recipes, make it a point to find the best ingredients and you will really notice a difference.