Cities with fresh produce (hotels, university, where to live)

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by Woof

Oh, I was just having some fun with stereotyping, based on what I read from some Southern posters here and on other forums. The kind of people who think that California is the land of fruits and nuts, and will someday break off and fall into the ocean under the weight of its sins.

Ah, I couldn't tell it was just a joke.



And California falling into the ocean will have nothing to do with sin...just the San Andreas fault. And that will only take some of it.

[sensualspirit]

Originally Posted by nashvols

1) Plenty of Southern cities have access to local produce, at least seasonally. Despite popular belief, California isn't the only place that produce is grown in the United States. And we can get it fresh, too.

2) "Many residents look on co-ops with suspicion, fearing that they might be socialist or communist"...Congratulations! You win the prize for the most ridiculous and unfounded statement of the day! Can you please share with us how you came to this conclusion, or where you came across this hot garbage nonsense?

LOL, I just ignored that comment

Can you share with me what Southern Cities you are referring to.

I'm getting REALLY confused now & overwhelmed. I need to shrink down my list of where to research & start asking questions of ONLY those forums.

I have already found some areas in Cali that are within my budget.

I want as clean air & waster is possible. That means no sulfur, hard water or water that smells like a swimming pool full of toxic chlorine. If that helps narrow it down any.

Oh & I also want a gas stove, so cities that use gas.

Thank you

[creeksitter]

Co-ops are great when they are run by nice people, but you usually have to have a car to get the items & I'd want to share with someone as I'm by myself

The co-ops I am thinking of are small/medium natural food stores where you can buy as much or as little as you want. Often they are cantrally located.

[ckhthankgod]

If weather isn't that big of a deal, the areas in Upstate NY would fit. For instance, Syracuse gets its water from a lake unfiltered and there are farms that have apples, onions, grapes, pears, corn, pumpkins and other fruits and veggies in the area. Wegmans is a market based in the Rochester that has good, fresh produce and has been viewed as one of the best supermarkets in the country by many publications. There are CO-OP markets in most, if not all of the bigger cities as well. Cost of living is around the national average, give or take.

With this said, this is why I asked what else you are looking for, as there are many areas that would/could fit that criteria.

[Iconographer]

Originally Posted by blaserbrad

Portland Oregon and Seattle Wa. Slight edge to Portland

Agreed. My daughter took me to a farmers' market in downtown Edmonds a couple of weeks ago and the produce was amazing. I couldn't get over the blackberries! They were huge.

[creeksitter]

I want as clean air & waster is possible. That means no sulfur, hard water or water that smells like a swimming pool full of toxic chlorine. If that helps narrow it down any

I'm curious whether you view your sensitivities as a burden - a handicap you wouldn't wish on others, or as a sign of refinement on your part.

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by sensualspirit

I have already found some areas in Cali that are within my budget.
I want as clean air & waster is possible. That means no sulfur, hard water or water that smells like a swimming pool full of toxic chlorine.

Clean air in California? Where would that be?
Affordable? Then there must be some significant downsides to the area.
The water in California is hard pretty much everywhere. The taste varies around the state.

But there is great fresh produce everywhere!

Oh, one more piece of advice--:

//www.city-data.com/forum/calif...rnia-cali.html

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Not really, like anything else in life you're paying for quality versus quantity...

Most vendors' products are the same veggies that you would get out of your back yard. It isn't uncommon for vendors to buy items and then resell them. As far as price goes, most vendors over charge if they can get away with it. I get a kick out of how many vendors up their prices in a rich area (because they know people will spend more for the same thing priced less at another market)

Many grocery stores are now supplementing with local growers.

[Dawn.Davenport]

Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Syracuse, New York are two cities that come to mind that have have amazing, inexpensive, expansive farmer's markets. There is so much agriculture around those cities and the demand is so small that you can really get amazing deals on great quality, organic produce. There's a lot of great dairy produced in Central New York and Pennsylvania.

[nashvols]

Originally Posted by sensualspirit

Can you share with me what Southern Cities you are referring to.

Most cities I have visited have farmer's markets, whether they be the large daily types in sheds/buildings or the weekly type that set up in parking lots.

You'll also occasionally find roadside stands where people sell their homegrown produce when it is in season...these are usually on the outskirts or in the more rural areas.

The change recently is more commercial locations are starting to pick up on the trend of local/regional produce...from small markets to restaurants that serve farm to table food.

My experience is with Nashville -- but I know it is happening in a lot of places around the South.




As for being overwhelmed, don't try to research everything at once. Divide it up into smaller regions and research bit by bit. If you have found places in Cali that fit your budget, I'd definitely start there, as that seems to be where you want to live anyways. Don't settle on a place. Find somewhere where you want to be.