Eating Seasonal Produce: Benefits to Health, the Environment, and Your Wallet

Eating seasonal produce has many great benefits—it’s healthier for you, better for the environment, and can even save you money. Here’s what you need to know about eating seasonally and how to make the most of it.

What Are the Benefits of Eating Seasonal Produce?

Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is beneficial to our health, the environment, and our wallets.

Health Benefits

Seasonal produce is healthier for you because it’s picked at its peak ripeness, when its vitamin and mineral content is at its highest. Produce that’s been shipped from far away can take weeks to reach its destination, so it doesn’t have the same nutrient content as produce that’s been picked at the right time.

Environmental Benefits

Eating seasonal produce is also more sustainable for the environment. Produce that’s shipped from far away requires a lot of energy and resources to get to its destination, which can have a negative impact on the environment. Eating seasonal produce that’s grown locally reduces the environmental impact of transportation.

Financial Benefits

Finally, eating seasonal produce can save you money. Seasonal produce is typically cheaper than imported produce because it’s grown locally and doesn’t require transportation costs. Plus, when you buy seasonal produce in bulk, you can often get a better deal.

How to Identify What Produce Is in Season

It can be difficult to know what produce is in season, especially if you’re not familiar with the growing season in your area. The best way to find out is to ask your local farmers or check out your local farmers markets. You can also look online for seasonal produce calendars that list what’s in season for each month.

Tips on How to Make the Most of Seasonal Produce

Once you know what produce is in season, you can start making the most of it. Here are a few tips:

• Buy in bulk. Buying in bulk is a great way to save money and ensure that you have enough produce to last you throughout the season.
• Store it properly. Proper storage can help your produce last longer, so be sure to store it in the right way. For example, leafy greens should be stored in the fridge while root vegetables can be stored in a cool, dry place.
• Preserve it. If you have too much produce, you can always preserve it by canning, freezing, or drying it. This way, you can enjoy your seasonal produce all year round.

Make Meals More Interesting and Flavorful

Eating seasonally can also make meals more interesting and flavorful. Eating in season means that you’re getting the freshest produce available, which means that your meals will have more flavor. Plus, you’ll be able to try new fruits and vegetables that you may not have tried before.

Eating seasonal produce has many great benefits, so make sure to take advantage of it! By eating seasonally, you can enjoy fresher, tastier, and more nutritious produce, while saving money and helping the environment.