The burgeoning <a href="http://www.grownyc.org/greenmarket">green market scene</a> in New York has made heirloom vegetables an inexpensive home staple instead of an unattainable luxury. More than just a phase, I personally have come to appreciate these provisions for stimulating my mental taste buds to recall the flavours that pervaded my youth. Heirloom fruits and vegetables are ones germinated from seeds that were cultivated during earlier periods of human history and are not used in large scale modern agricultural processes. They are noted for their rich, true-to-nature flavour. In other words they actually taste intensely like what they <em>are</em>; not a watered down version like many of their modern-day counterparts.

Being raised in a city there wasn't much space to grow and cultivate, but my parents always found a way. The circumference of our garden was home to petite, sweet yet juicy red strawberries. I remember excitedly running outside to peek underneath the rich dark leaves, yelping with glee at the small red treasure the plant yielded. The fruit were small but succulent and tasted undeniably like a strawberry. Sadly most of what is seen in stores today are flavourless gargantuan sized caricature's of their ancestors.  Heirloom strawberries don't often reach the retail market, although they do exist. However, the strawberry you get at a farmer's market will taste infinitely better than the ones at your local supermarket. 

Each season I am excited to purchase heirloom vegetables at my local farmers market. Tomatoes are available quite freely. Carrots, beans, radishes, squash, peppers..the list blossoms in their due season. They add a dimension to any dish that you will undeniably find surprising and reminiscent of the food you enjoyed growing up { if you are over the age of say 20 }. 

I like to be aware of trends but adopt them rarely. Heirloom produce however, is one I quite proudly succumb to and encourage others to do likewise. There are few precious things in life nowadays but a good meal is one of them. A meal that causes you to pause and enjoy the gift the land you cross all day offers you. A gift of sustenance, flavour and memories.