My Very Local Citrus-Scented Salad

This quick easy Florida recipe can be locally sourced with ease. 

 

Lettuce from White Rabbit (37th Street west of 66th Avenue), a serve yourself farm / grocery that feels like a thing of the past but with the current food movement is really a thing of the future, a haven of farm-fresh local produce plus some shipped-in organics, nuts and seeds and a few odds and ends.

 

Also from White Rabbit, local micro-greens  grown by Loveland Farms in Ft. Pierce.

 

At today's Vero Beach farmer's market, the Osceola Farms spring mix of lettuces is priced well for a large bag.  We were joking about just how much I paid at last night's restaurant for a small portion of these very greens. Now I have a huge $5 bag.

 

The key to my special salad was a touch of citrus. The grapefruits and oranges from Schacht Groves are not coated with any crazy wax, resin or fungicide, so I trust them above the other options here.  I cut a few pieces of grapefruit and one small wedge of Valencia orange. Then, I carefully cut very thin, long slivers of grapefruit zest to flavor my salad. (see below for health benefits)

 

I chopped local hydroponic cucumbers because I like a salad with some crunch. The local hydroponic guy usually has a bunch of peppers, lettuce, and other greens and herbs. He, as usual, gave me a deal, this time because he though he had kept the cucumbers too cold and frozen some.   So far, they all have been crunchy and delicious.

 

As dressing, I used a light spritz of olive oil and balsamic vinegar with a big squeeze of fresh grapefruit juice.

So, I just ate my very local salad with some nuts on the side and big glass of iced green tea.

Sources:

http://www.localharvest.org/white-rabbit-acres-organic-farm-csa-M7062

http://www.osceolaorganicfarm.com/

http://www.schachtgroves.com/

 

Also local, Susannah made toast (organic bread from the Village Beach Market) with olive oil and used bunches of fresh strong rosemary she picked just outside our door.

 

Health benefits of grapefruit:

• the pulp / pectin cleans out clogged arteries and decreases cholesterol. This probably has to do with its ability to break down calcium deposits.
• protects from colon cancer.
• can stop spread of breast cancer by eliminating excess estrogen.
• the peel has pectin and high antioxidant values.
• the peel promotes weight loss.
• the white albedo (under the skin) has the highest levels of bioflavonoids.
• the whole fruit is significantly healthier than just the juice.