SILVER SPRINGS — Local farmers will be selling during the winter with on-farm sales, buying programs and through retail outlets. Customers can buy produce such as potatoes, onions, garlic, winter squash and apples that can be stored for weeks or months in a cool garage or basement. Some summer crops such as tomatoes and peppers are available to freeze or can for the winter.

Farmers now are using hoophouses that protect crops from the weather and allow them to grow greens and cool-weather crops all winter long. Beets, carrots, spinach and greens will be available for most of the winter.

Ray and Virginia Johnson, owners of Custom Gardens Organic Farm in Silver Springs, will have on-farm sales throughout the winter. The Johnsons are known for growing crops not typically grown in northern Nevada, such as sweet potatoes, and they’ll offer fresh ginger for the first time this winter.

Community-supported agriculture (CSA) is another option. Customers prepay the farmer for a season and receive a weekly box of locally grown produce for a certain number of weeks.

The Great Basin Basket CSA offers a winter program with fresh produce through mid-December. Five northern Nevada farmers grow for the CSA.

Reno’s only community-owned grocery store, the Great Basin Community Food Co-op, located at 542 1/2 Plumas St., is the most abundant retail source of local food during the winter. More information on these and other sources of local food can be found at:

• Custom Gardens Organic Farm: 577-2069, http://customgardens.home.mindspring.com/

• Great Basin Basket CSA: 843-6402, www.great basinbasket.com

• Great Basin Community Food Co-op: 324-6133, www.greatbasin food.coop

• NevadaGrown: 351-2551, www.nevada grown.com

• Local Harvest: www.localharvest.org.