Scott Terrell / Skagit Valley Herald Harvest pie, made of apples, pears and cranberries at Calico Cupboard, is mostly organic.

By FRANNY WHITE, Staff Writer

With more farmers and grocers offering a variety of organic produce, meats, dairy, grains and even wine, this holiday season could be your chance to serve a festive meal that’s both delicious and good for the Earth.

“People think (of) the holidays (as) traditional food, and you tend to lapse into the same brands,” said Todd Wood, manager of the Skagit Valley Food Co-op in downtown Mount Vernon.

But lapse no more, Wood said. He encouraged others to be creative during this year’s Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza season by employing different ingredients that are also organic.

Although organic foods tend to be more expensive, Brenda Schmidt, manager of the Calico Cupboard restaurant in downtown Mount Vernon, said the extra cost is well worth it.

“They’re better for you because they don’t have all the sprays and pesticides,” Schmidt said. “You can get such beautiful products that are organic now.”

To cut costs, Wood recommends buying produce that is in season and comes from local farmers through community-supported agriculture programs whenever possible. Although in-season produce is limited during the winter, some fresh local food possibilities include apples, squash, potatoes, leeks, carrots, beets, kale and other greens, pears and parsnips.

And given that the spirit of the holidays includes giving gifts to those you love, Wood said there’s no better gift than healthy food.

“When you pull your family together, you want to give them the best,” he said. “You can have a gosh darn great feast with organics, there’s no doubt about it.”