NCP Blog: Eating in Season

One of the great things about summer is the delicious and refreshing seasonal fruits and vegetables. Eating seasonally has its benefits. Food is fresher, tastier and more nutritious when consumed in season. When you buy seasonal fruits and vegetables from local farms they are often fresher since they haven’t been transported long distances, or harvested early so they can be shipped to your local stores.Some of my favorite summer produce is watermelon, cherries, corn, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

 

Why Eat Seasonal?

 

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of seasonal fruits and vegetables from Farm Hippie:

 

Eating seasonal saves money – seasonal produce tends to be less expensive.
Seasonal produce is fresher – if you compare locally grown produce to store produce most likely you will see a difference in color, vibrancy, and taste.
Seasonal produce is healthier – nutrients decline when produce is stored for long periods of time.
Seasonal produce is more flavorful – when crops travel long distances they go through different processes to prevent spoiling and slow down or speed up ripening.
Eating with the seasons encourages home cooking – buying seasonal produce usually encourages you to cook more, which is better for your health.

 

Guide to Summer Produce

 

Here’s a handy list of fruits and vegetables that grow best in the heat of summer from Whole Foods Market.

 

Fruits
Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
Cantaloupe and Honeydew Melons
Cherries
Stone Fruits (peaches, plums, apricots and nectarines)
Watermelon
Grapes

 

 

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