We moved to south central PA several years ago after 15 yrs in central SC. When we lived in SC I was so disappointed with the lack of fresh produce...it was all shipped north apparently. But...when we moved to PA I took up canning again because of all of the fresh locally grown produce (alot of Amish & Mennonite farmers). I know I'm going to forget something but here goes:
sweet & sour cherries...out of this world
delicious peaches especially the new havens
fantastic apricots (don't know the variety)
nectarines
all kinds of berries...strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, red & black
tomatoes, sweetest corn, peppers (bell & hot), green beans, winter & summer squash (though I grow my own summer squash), hydroponic lettuce year round,
and my favorite apples...all northern varieties (we live next to Adams County-Apple orchards from corner to corner).

And I live just over the mountain from a winery that grows its own grapes. And also a farm with free range beef & eggs.

I also have a friend with hives who makes her own honey and when I told her I can with honey she dropped off 5 qts.

Now these are only a sampling of what "I" buy, unfortunately I haven't found any PYO farms except for strawberries but I don't have the time anyway.

I'm sorry I can't talk you into moving west. I lived through Hugo so I don't think I want to experience earth quakes.

Oh yeah and the history abounds (Gettysburg)
Karen

"I have a friend with hives . . ." You can just imagine my first reaction when I read that!

OK, here goes:

Strawberries, raspberries, Marionberries, boysenberries, Loganberries, Santiams, currants, gooseberries, blueberries, peaches, pears (highest producer in the nation), cherries (highest producer for sweets; second to Michigan for sour cherries), apples, onions, corn, green beans, shell beans, pumpkins, squash, grapes, Asian vegetables, tomatillo, tomatoes (lots of heirlooms), peppers sweet and hot, root vegetables, lettuces, cucumbers - basically whatever you can think of barring the tropicals - no pineapple or mangoes.

Right now we're eating out of the garden second planting of sweet corn, gobs of tomatoes, Walla Walla sweet onions and red onions, all kinds of hot and sweet peppers, cantaloupe, a wonderful yellow-rind red-flesh Asian watermelon, crookneck squash. We don't "do" green beans, cucumber, zucchini (all on DH's loathe-list).

I know I've forgotten lots. U-pick farms abound on the Wet side of Oregon where I am. The Outback is a different story, but with irrigation they produce wonderful melons and other hot-weather crops.

Oh, and hops. This is micro-brew country. Slow-Food movement, organic farming etc. etc. Culinary central.

Carol

We chose our new town (had to move out of Toronto's real estate h***) in part, honestly, because of the excellent local hard cider.

And we knew that it was a new wine region, and while the local wines were BRAND new and still very uneven at that time (about two years ago now), we figured that where wine went, good food was likely to follow.

And indeed, the wine is developing nicely --- quite a few decent ones already, and more every season --- and we are discovering excellent restaurants, artisanal food outlets, niche farm retailers, etc., some of which were already here and some of which are new as this area becomes a food tourism destination. Slow Food has just begun a chapter in my town of 4,000, and we're the first test market in Canada for the "fresh from the farm" Web site (see link --- it is intended to help people anywhere in North America find local producers!).

We don't have as much PYO as I'd like --- generally strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, pumpkins.

The climate is much like upstate New York. The soil is supposed to be almost identical to that of Burgundy, and perhaps the best place in North America to grow Pinot Noir grapes, although that pesky zone 5 winter does make for some extra headaches at the wineries (all vines have to be buried in the fall and uncovered in the spring!).

I love, love, love the fresh produce. To be honest, I am such a city girl that when I thought about good food following good wine I mostly had restaurants in mind. It was such a happy realization to find the farm stands galore --- and of course, many of the restaurants feature local foods prominently. Even the local casual hot dog eatery, the Buddha Dog ("make me one with everything" ;-) ) features cheeses from the 100-year-old local cheese factory and sauces made from all-local ingredients.

So, while I miss the ethnic restaurants and anything-you-could-possibly-want grocery stores of Toronto, the great fresh food evens out the eating experience, especially at this time of year!

Zabby

Here is a link that might be useful: Fresh from the Farm

Yes, Oregon's Willamette valley is a fine place for growing things to eat. The major industries here are farming and nursery stock. On one side of my property is a blueberry farm and down the road are peach orchards. If you want to grow berries, this place is for you. Or you can pick wild blackberries to your heart's content. I grow figs here, although I have to be selective on variety. But forget about citrus or other tropicals. Cherries, apples and pears love it here. Plums are a bit more difficult, and apricots are out.

Yep, Oregon's Willamette Valley is THE place.
Add to the lists above:

Fresh seafood is 45 minutes away.
Grass fed beef, lamb, pork and chevon.
Wineries abound.

We literally have a growing season from Feb. to Nov.
Pretty much everything grows here 'cept those tropicals.
Luckily, lemons, limes, oranges, olives and avocados transport fairly well........ (grin).

With a greenhouse, you could probably grow some of those!

Land of the food Gods!
Come on out and visit...looks like there's plenty of us here to give you the grand tour! Just don't come in January...we pretty much stay indoors reading seed catalogs to avoid becoming waterlogged!
Deanna

Michigan also has that "micro-climate" which allows us to grow wine grapes and there are many wineries up and down the "coast".

My local U pick has strawberries, blueberries, both sweet and sour cherries, apples and chestnuts. They grow and sell peaches, but don't have a U pick operation on that.

We are a big supplier of dried beans and peas and manufacture beet sugar just a few hundred miles from me. Blackberries (if the bears leave them alone), pears, apricots, asparagus (the next county is the "asparagus capitol"), sweet corn, potatoes, rhubarb, plums, carrots, onions, celery, I'm sure there are more that I haven't thought of.

Annie

Oh, I forgot about asparagus! (Annie, thanks for reminding me.) It's kind of an obssession around here --- the asparagus farm on Ridge Road, unlike so many of the foodie establishments, doesn't do festivals, U-Pick, a Web site, the "taste trail" brochure, advertising, or even an announcement except for one simple sign at the crossroads from town reading just "ASPARAGUS" (without even an arrow to tell you which way to turn on the crossroad!).

It just grows asparagus to die for, and it's a local riutual to spread the word when it starts being available. ("How are you Bessie? How's the lumbago?" "Oh, not too bad today, Hubert, thanks. Fine weather we're having, isn't it?" "Yes indeed! Did you hear the asparagus is in?")

Zabby

Our major growing season for cukes, tomatoes, beans, squash, peppers, etc. is Dec through March-early April. The same season applies to our fruits - strawberries (the best in the US!),oranges, grapefruits, lemons, bananas, etc.. The only fruits that grow for me in the summer months are mangoes and limes. The majority of my canning is done with our fresh, local winter produce and strawberries - summer canning is for the peaches, plums, blueberries and other fruits that don't grow in Florida in addition to mangoes. I miss Ohio!!!

Here in Queensland, Australia, it's tropical or subtropical, so our local fruit includes things like pineapples, bananas, pawpaw, mango, star fruit, mangosteen, persimmon, coconut etc. But we also grow a lot of strawberries, citrus, grapes, and other fruits. On the mountains, apples and other cool-weather crops are grown.

As for veges, there's no knowing where they come from, but we have an enormous variety to choose from all year round. Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, cabbages, Asian veges, you name it.

Stone fruits are usually only available in our area in summer. I don't know where fruits like blueberries or kiwifruit come from, but they're available all year round, too.

It's a pretty good place to move to!

Here where I am, we have big fat white aspargus in the spring, sweet cherries in the early summer, plums right now, and apples and pears in the fall. The spanish nectarines that they sell everywhere here have been tasty all summer.