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The foodie culture in Maine often touts its reliance on local sources. We have local cheesemakers and wineries, homemade ice cream and homegrown potatoes.  Our restaurants are so good because chefs are able to incorporate many Maine products in their dishes across the state.

But what about during this desolate time deemed spring but known to Mainers as what it really is: winter’s relentless death grip? (Yes, the snow falling outside as I write has made me just slightly bitter.)

According to Get Real, Get Maine’s chart via Eat Maine Food’s Roger Doiron, the only fruit or vegetable available fresh is arugula.  And given the weather, I doubt there’s much of that these days.  In Maine it is very hard to eat fresh, local food in March.  There’s simply not much to be had.

The solution:  just eat frozen.

It’s a pastime largely left out of the glossy food discourse, but, especially when times are tight (read the BDN article on food stamp prevalence in Maine. Highlight: In 2003 an average of 132,000 Mainers received food stamp benefits.   Last month was up to 176,000 people. That is one in eight Mainers.), hunting is often the most economical way to go.  It’s local eating taken to a whole new level.

 Plenty of people in Maine still kill their own deer, moose, and other animals, both for the fun of it and for the food of it. And if you don't have friends willing to impart their hunting expertise on you, you're in luck because Maine has a lot of places like Mountain Shadows Hunting Plus or Skinner Bog Wilderness Hunts, where you can arrange for a hunt and they’ll butcher your bounty for you. 

So in March you can still feast on local food. It just comes from your freezer instead.

Posted on Monday, March 31, 2008 in Permalink