Local produce season will be peaking very soon—when almost everything is available to us, from spring vegetables like herbs and radishes to winter crops such as cured onions and squash. And of course there’s the fruit; we will soon see local peaches, melons, and then apple and pears. If you look around Seward’s produce departments…  Read More →

Hoch Orchards and Gardens, run by Harry and Jackie Hoch (above), is a family farm near La Crescent, Minn., with a long tradition of growing fresh fruit. A handful of the farm’s original trees, planted in the 1940s, can still be found on the farm, though production is concentrated on newer varieties. Besides 50 varieties…  Read More →

I’m the father of two darn good eaters. My son can rip through a plate of rice and black beans like a lawn mower and my daughter actually packs cucumbers in her lunch. They aren’t the best eaters (Skittles and Nerds are the bane of my existence), and I always wish they’d eat more at…  Read More →

Hoch Orchard and Gardens is owned and run by Harry and Jackie Hoch. Located near La Crescent, Minn., Hoch has a long tradition of growing fresh fruit. A handful of the farm’s original trees, planted in the 1940s, are still on the farm, though production is concentrated on newer varieties. Besides 50 varieties of apples,…  Read More →