The idea of “Christmas in July” isn’t really a modern marketing ploy. Summer has always been the time of abundance — and of preserving that abundance for the cold months ahead. Whenever you dry herbs, can vegetables or cook up fruit preserves, you are giving yourself a future gift of homegrown and homemade goodness. This summer, as you visit farmers markets and gardens for farm-fresh ingredients to preserve, why not plan on getting a little of your Christmas shopping done at the same time? Watch the video above for ways you can start Christmas season projects during the growing season. Visit PickTNProducts.org or use the free Pick TN mobile app to find farmers markets near you and for a chart to convert farm measures like bushels and pecks to kitchen measures like quarts and gallons.
Tammy Algood
Tammy Algood develops for The Tennessee Magazine recipes that feature farm-fresh Tennessee food. Those fresh, local ingredients will always add cleaner, more flavorful foods to your table. We recommend visiting local farms and farmers markets to find the freshest seasonal produce. For more information about our recipes, contact Algood at [email protected].