[Bravo35223]

The reason Produce costs more in Alabama than in California is that California's vast central agricultural valley generates such a huge supply. The greater the supply the lower the cost. A meaningful amount of Produce sold in Alabama comes from California.

If you are an Alabama landowner, Produce production is low on your list of uses. Cattle ranching is the number one 'agribusiness' in the state, therefore on a relative scale, there is less land used in Alabama for Produce production than in California. And an Alabama landowner knows that on a acre-by-acre basis, they will generate more revenue from cattle than from Produce. Some of this is also a result of the fact that much of Alabama's soil is clay, which is not very fertile for Produce production.....

The Whole Foods in Birmingham does indeed buy as much of their produce as possible from local growers and their signs tout this. Piggly Wiggly does the same.

Frank Stitt of Highland Bar and Grill and Botegga has been using Alabama-grown organic Produce in his restaurants for 20 years. When the Whole Foods buyers came into the city as the store was being built, they visited him to learn of the local growers he uses....

[tuxedocat]

Hello again, Harry Chickpea!
I make a really good ginger tea. I grate ginger, pour boiling water over it and let it steep. I strain into a cup, add a little honey and sip. It smells heavenly, makes you sleep good and has a lot of health benefits like anti inflammatory and other things as well. I am convinced it is a good stress reliever especially outside on a cool night with a beautiful starry sky and moon to look at.
I am quite certain you already knew about this kind of tea but thought I would say so anyway.

[Southlander]

Originally Posted by Bravo35223

Cattle ranching is the number one 'agribusiness' in the state

I thought it was poultry...sure seems like it around here, anyway!

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by Southlander

I thought it was poultry...sure seems like it around here, anyway!

Just another form of Agribusiness that takes away from Produce production!!!

Poultry strong in North Alabama and cattle dominant in the south....where there's a lot more rural land....

[NicoleC]

Bravo is spot on - everyone thinks of California as the Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood, but much of the state is dedicated to it's low tech export: food. If you like your fruits and veggies, it's a happy place.

Then again, imagine I-65 packed with dairy feed lots. Pheee-eeew!

Stick with pasture... it's a better neighbor.

[sunshine girl]

When we lived in FL, the oranges in the stores were either from CA or So America, not FL grown. And they were expensive. Same with tomatoes in the stores. Always thought that was strange. If not for farmer's markets, we would never have had FL grown produce in FL.

[harry chickpea]

Poultry doesn't compete with produce, since it takes little area, and the feeds generally come from the midwest. In fact, poultry litter, composted, is highly sought after as a soil ammendment.

I'm becoming very familiar with the soil on our property. Topsoil ranges from 3" to 18" deep, and the subsoil is limestone chert with some nearly solid chert inclusions. Most of the rock is gravel-sized to book sized. Growing row crops is possible, but the potential for damage from drought, hight heat, deer, rabbits, and various insects make it a chancy proposition. However, even just fooling around this summer, DW has grown okra, beans, watermelon, and a variety of squash. Farming the bottoms would be far easier than trying to turn the soil on the hills.

[Bravo35223]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Poultry doesn't compete with produce, since it takes little area, and the feeds generally come from the midwest. In fact, poultry litter, composted, is highly sought after as a soil ammendment.

I'm becoming very familiar with the soil on our property. Topsoil ranges from 3" to 18" deep, and the subsoil is limestone chert with some nearly solid chert inclusions. Most of the rock is gravel-sized to book sized. Growing row crops is possible, but the potential for damage from drought, hight heat, deer, rabbits, and various insects make it a chancy proposition. However, even just fooling around this summer, DW has grown okra, beans, watermelon, and a variety of squash. Farming the bottoms would be far easier than trying to turn the soil on the hills.

Facinating post....the stereotypical image of Alabama's land includes acres and acres of row crops, and while there are certainly large areas of the state that are suitable for row cropping, a large percentage of the land in Alabama is not suitable for it...wrong soil, too rocky or heavily forested.....

[knightofeffect]

I have been going to Garden Cove in Huntsville for the last 16 or so years and can honestly say it is the best "health food" market I have been to. Everything is decently priced and the owner/workers are extremely friendly. Well at least this is how it still was 2 years ago, since then I've moved to Birmingham; however, I'll be traveling back to Huntsville this weekend and be sure to visit it again!

[boomer]

Originally Posted by boomer

Does anyone here know of a Whole Foods in Huntsville. If not, are there any rumors of a future Whole Foods in the Huntsville area. Also, is there health foods stores in northern Al worth mentioning?

We have just moved up here to the Huntsville area and unfortunately, fresh market is nothing like Whole Foods. All they have is some organic produce and the rest of the store is mainly candy! It is crazy. They don't even carry vitamins. Please if anyone knows how to contact Whole Foods to request a store for Huntsville please let me know. I tried on-line but would not allow me to.(?) Thank you if anyone can help. Our 3 year old son has a health condtion and we need a health food store with a good selection.