The lure of the local

balf "Peaches,'' by OLLIE BALF,  in the show "Montserrat College of Art Founders Exhibition,'' at Rocky Neck Art Colony,  Gloucester, Mass. through Jan. 15.

Yes, there's plenty of produce available in New England that's shipped here year round by train,  truck and rail  (and kept fresh via freon and refrigeration) from far away. But it's never as delicious as the fruits and vegetables from New England from May to October.

I sometimes envy our younger daughter in Southern California (who works for a fresh-food company called Good Eggs) who has access to fresh, locavore produce year round.

---- Robert Whitcomb