Seasonal Fruits and Veggies

Getting the best of the best means eating luscious fruits and veggies when they are the ripest and freshest, thus packed with the most vitamins and nutrients. The easiest way to do this is by eating seasonal and local fruits and vegetables.

Produce in your supermarket can travel more than 2000 miles before it gets to you–given the length of time it takes to transport your produce most of the items are picked prior to maturity and can affect the nutritional make-up. Additionally, the long distance travels has a impact on mother earth, like pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. So what can you do to get the best out of your produce while still being eco-conscious?

Farmer’s markets and food co-ops are excellent ways to help support your local farmers and communities. They can be great resources for the freshest, purest, and healthiest produce – not to mention, more inexpensive. Local produce not only tastes better, and by buying locally you are cutting out unnecessary food packaging, reducing delivery miles, and in turn attributing to the preservation of mother earth.

Below is a simple chart that shows when fruits and veggies are in season. Of course, just because tomatoes are best eaten in the summer doesn’t mean you cant enjoy them the rest of the year! Following seasonal eating is certainly ideal, but can be hard given how our tastes and appetites can vary throughout the year. Understanding this, the next best thing is to visit national organic food stores like Whole Foods, Wild Oats, or Trader Joe’s where they are likely to import seasonal fruits from around the world while also supporting local farmers. Also, many local farmers may grow fruits and veggies in greenhouses where they can regulate the temperature and humidity and grow a variety of produce year round. This means you can pretty much enjoy those nutrition packed fruits and veggies for most of the year!