Why do you eat it?

[Sara]

Hi everybody,

Yesterday a (very good!) friend gave me a bag of freshly harvested purple sprouting broccoli. As expected, it was delicious! I'm looking forward to tucking into a bit more this evening.

I think it's generally accepted that home-grown food tastes much better than shop-bought stuff. Why is this? Do you have any ideas? Let us know by voting in the poll!


Your comments may be edited and published in the July issue of Grow Your Own.

Thanks,

Sara

[northepaul]

I put it hasnt been transported so far, which is kind of what I meant - its fresher because it hasnt done lots of miles.

[peanut]

For me it's the transport thing....when we grow at home we can pick and cook/eat straight away before the sugars start turning to carbs....hence the sweeter fresher flavours.

[womble]

I think we all know the answers to this one.

It's grown in proper soil, often using natural fertilisers.
We often use older better tasting varieties. We don't grow varieties grown for shelf life.
We eat it quicker. Often minutes.

Above all ! We've grown the stuff, of course it's going to taste better


edit, I didn't even notice it was a poll.
How can you have one answer to this? I vote for all I have said.

[pipkins]

I think we all know the answers to this one.

It's grown in proper soil, often using natural fertilisers.
We often use older better tasting varieties. We don't grow varieties grown for shelf life.
We eat it quicker. Often minutes.

Above all ! We've grown the stuff, of course it's going to taste better


edit, I didn't even notice it was a poll.
How can you have one answer to this? I vote for all I have said.

I go with Womble!!

[Brengirl]

I enjoy eating my homegrown stuff because it has had my care and attention since 'birth' and I feel it has tried to reward me somehow. It would be cruel to say it wasn't the best I have ever tasted.

[Jax]

I love my home grown produce. I think, not only is it fresher, not only does it spark a magical pride within you but it hasnt been overly produced for money or handled by so many different people. The produce we grow and eat we have lovingly grown, unlike commercially grown crops. Our plants are our babies and you can tell in the taste.

[Patchninja]

I voted for the distance traveled, but I agree with Womble.

[Alison]

I put other as I didn't feel I could tick just one option. I love being able to be partially self sufficient and to feed me and OH (as well as other friends and family), to know how it has been grown from seed to plate without the use of chemicals or anything I don't like, to know that it is the freshest it can possibly be (sometimes minutes from picking) and because I can buy varieties which I can't buy in the shops. There is also the food miles issue and the love of being in touch with what is in season. As I said, many reasons!

[SarzWix]

I voted 'Other' but really I meant 'All of the above'.

1) I choose varieties based on flavour, as well as suitability for my situation, rather than based on uniformity, keeping qualities and having all ready at the same time

2) Harvesting when ready and eating withing minutes/hours, rather than harvesting when almost ready and artificially ripening whilst in transit, makes a huge difference to the sugar/carb balance and the available nutrients.

3) Pride in your own accomplishment sweetens every mouthful

[rustylady]

It's really fresh, you can't beat any veg grown on your own plot and brought home to be cooked within the hour, and you know what (if any) chemicals and fertilisers have been used.

[jacob marley]

I voted 'Other' but really I meant 'All of the above'.

1) I choose varieties based on flavour, as well as suitability for my situation, rather than based on uniformity, keeping qualities and having all ready at the same time

2) Harvesting when ready and eating withing minutes/hours, rather than harvesting when almost ready and artificially ripening whilst in transit, makes a huge difference to the sugar/carb balance and the available nutrients.

3) Pride in your own accomplishment sweetens every mouthful

That is as good as it gets i could not put it better....jacob

[binley100]

I go with Womble!!

me too...........

[PAULW]

As with Rustylady if I use sprays it is because there is a need to, not I'll spray them just in case, everything tastes much better being fresher not like the supermarket stuff that could have been in the cold store for months.

[Snadger]

As with all veg, freshness (i.e. cooked soon after picking) is what does it for me. PSB is one of my favourites and for some reason is very expensive in the shops.
My PSB, cooked within an hour of picking, knocks spots off the limp excuse for a brassica you find being sold in shops!