As I write, a Long Island Cheese is roasting in the oven. That would be an heirloom pumpkin that I bought for $3 from a local farmer. Park of this good sized pumpkin will become curried soup for dinner tonight. The rest will go in the freezer for baking and cooking.
$3 and some electricity to roast this thing will produce a massive quantity of pumpkin pulp, much more than comparably spent on the canned stuff at the grocer.
Every region of the country must have its own local, cheap veg. Where I live the list includes sweet potatoes, turnips (roots and greens) and collards. (Hey y'all!)
So I challenge everyone to try something new, local and cheap. Then tell us about it.