There's no need to head back to the grocery store just yet. There are plenty of local farms either with harvested veggies or still producing late season crops. And many of these foods I actually prefer to those so abundant during the warmer months. Wonderful winter squash, for instance, can be prepared sweet (complemented with flavors of cinnamon, brown sugar, maple syrup, dried fruit and nuts) or savory (combined with cheese, sage, leeks, mushrooms and onions).

According to The Old Farmers Almanac - that stalwart bellwether of green thumbs everywhere - some crops thrive when left to ripen after a frost and can be harvested in the snow. These include: cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, leeks, carrots, kale, parsnips and turnips.

In fact, many vegetables taste better after a light frost. With Brussels sprouts and kale, the sugar content actually increases as the thermometer recedes, making for a sweeter, less bitter veggie. Other crops, such as parsnips and carrots, convert their starches to sugars in cold conditions and yield similarly tasty results.

Try inquiring at the following farms for purchasing winter storage vegetables (and some other food items) this month. Some crops may be available in large quantities, if you would like to stock up on 20 pounds of potatoes or winter squash, for instance. The list includes vegetables the farmer may have up until Thanksgiving, although it is difficult to promise absolute availability.

Finally, whichever winter-friendly vegetables you choose, The Almanac recommends you store your edible booty in a cool, dry area such as a basement, in bins filled with dry sawdust or sand. Though it depends on the type, most winter squashes and potatoes will store for weeks, even months.

Still hankering for more?

Visit www.localharvest.com, enter any zip code and a map pops up along with a list of several local food-related establishments - not just farms, but also restaurants, stores and CSAs. You can narrow your search to include a specific farm product, from dried fruit to flowers to soap.

I tried the Auburn zip code 13021 in a broad search and got 11 farms in the resulting list, with descriptions, links, photos and contact information.

Julia Reich, of Scipio Center is owner of Julia Reich Design, a graphic design studio, and self-proclaimed “foodie,” with interests in cooking (and eating) ; Glenda Neff, of Auburn and a long-time supporter of New York farms and foods, contributed to this column