Winter Veggies in Montana

When winter hits, trying to get vegetables locally becomes a seemingly grueling task, whereas eggs, dairy, grains, and meats may still be easy to find. So this winter, use these helpful tips for ways to keep your veggies local this winter.

• Attend the Bozeman Winter Farmers’ Market. Held in the Emerson Ballroom every other Saturday at 9am to noon from early January to the end of April, the market has seasonal vegetables from local greenhouses. Root vegetables are also plentiful and you can find local canned veggies as well. Find more info at bozemanwintermarket.com.
• Local root vegetables often stay longer in grocery stores such as the Co-op. Since root vegetables store longer, so you’re more likely to find them farther into winter.
• Put in the extra effort to look at labels. Check for a “Made in Montana” label, or ask the clerk if they have received any recent vegetables from local farms.
• When you can’t get Montanan, get as close as you can. Look at the labels and try to find vegetables from Washington, Oregon, or California. Buying from a closer state is always better than buying veggies that have been transported from farther away states or South America.
• When eating out, ask if they serve locally sourced vegetables, or visit localharvest.org for a complete list of area restaurants buy local.