FarmShare Folks: Meet Sarah Humm
This summer, we're kicking off a new series of posts called FarmShare Folks. We thought it would be fun to introduce you to some of the wonderful people who make FarmShare possible -- our fantastic FarmShare subscribers, our talented local farmers, cheese-makers, bakers and other members of our FarmShare food community. This week, we get to know Sarah Humm and her son Theo. Many of you will recognize Sarah as she helps out with FarmShare deliveries at our Tower City pickup location.
By Elizabeth Bruml, FarmShare Ohio
Bright blue-eyed Theo might be one of the most well nourished two-year-olds in Shaker Heights. He also has a sophisticated palate for a toddler: he’s tried squash and beets, and rather than eating the classic blended carrots from a jar, his mom, Sarah Humm, makes this staple herself from local veggies. Sarah cooks meals consisting of the freshest local ingredients, many of which, during the summer and fall months, come from her FarmShare tote bag.
Sarah first learned of FarmShare three years ago, as she passed by an assortment of produce during a FarmShare pick-up day at Tower City. While the vibrant fruits and vegetables caught her eye, she said that what sealed the deal for a subscription was FarmShare Founder, Kari Moore’s amiability—Sarah noticed Kari’s engagement with her subscribers, approaching them as friends and demonstrating true care and concern, wanting their FarmShare experiences to be the best they could be.
Coming across FarmShare was a stroke of luck for Sarah, who at the time felt frustrated with having to eat produce that may have journeyed many days to get to her (on average, food travels three to five days and perhaps as many states or even countries/continents to arrive at a grocery store). Sarah, her husband Pip, and Theo had recently relocated to Cleveland from Queens, New York, in order to be closer to family, and she missed the farmers’ market that used to be across the street. “I cringe when I see a tomato from Mexico, or Canada, or anywhere outside of Ohio,” she said during our conversation. “Why should our food be more well-traveled than we are?” she posed. While travel is good for us, it's not always ideal for our food.
Sarah loves FarmShare because she is able to once again enjoy local food, as she did in New York. “Local food simply tastes better; it’s fresher, and it lasts longer,” she explained. Sarah has also had a lot of fun with FarmShare, experimenting with the variety of vegetables that come in the tote, such as garlic scapes and beets, two of Sarah’s favorites.
I thought I might have misheard when Sarah started raving about beet cupcakes, but no, she spoke in all seriousness, and now I am curious to taste the moist cake created by adding beets to the batter. And I’ve always loved hummus, but beet hummus is a whole new take on the Mediterranean staple. Sarah has truly embraced FarmShare and always looks forward to trying the weekly recipes she receives in the weekly FarmShare Kitchen newsletter, and she believes that often, the simplest preparation is the best because of the freshness.
Sarah’s passion for eating locally was sparked not only by the increase in farmers’ markets and growing popularity of local food restaurants in New York, but also by a trip she took to Provence, France, with her husband. She recalled a certain day when, after purchasing vegetables at a market, they proceeded to cook a delicious dinner of ratatouille. “This was the best day of our trip—we felt like we were truly experiencing French culture, and I wanted to feel that great about what I eat all the time,” she reminisced.
For Sarah, FarmShare is also appealing because it saves her time: rather than having to trek to the grocery store, list and Theo in hand, to make dinner by 5:00, she can now focus on what is in the FarmShare bag. Because of FarmShare, she no longer dreads going to the grocery store and having to face the overwhelming displays that overflow with food. In her words, “FarmShare makes everything so much easier!” Now, it is easier to help Theo stay on the path of local eating that will help him grow and develop healthy habits that will stick with him in the future. By buying local, Sarah is helping Theo begin to understand and appreciate the journey food makes to get on his plate.