5 Reasons You Should Be Eating Seasonally

Eating seasonally has its benefits. There’s nothing like checking your local farmers market or perusing the produce section of your local grocery store. But with advances in technology and modern transportation, many types of fruits and vegetables are conveniently available year round, why is it better to eat produce in season?

It’s Less Expensive
Hands down, eating produce in season is significantly cheaper. When there’s abundance of a product, like peaches in the summer, the prices go down. Learning what’s available seasonally in your area will put less of a dent in your wallet.

It Tastes Better
Seasonal fresh produce is picked when it's ripe and fully developed. If you see peaches in the winter, it was picked underripe so it won’t bruise during shipment and lasts longer on the shelf. Produce that has been allowed to fully ripen tastes amazing! Compare a vine ripened tomato versus one hydroponically grown—there’s a significant taste difference. 

It’s More Nutritious
Produce that has ripened in the sun will have more vitamins and nutrition. The more sun exposure will yield higher levels of antioxidants.

More Variety
Many produce departments will offer unusual varieties of fruit and vegetables depending on the time of year. Think about chestnuts and persimmons in the fall or pomegranates and Meyer lemons in the winter.  This is because these fruits and vegetables are plentiful during those seasons. Don’t be afraid to try something new!

Better for the Environment
Seasonal produce can grow without too much outside modification. If you buy apples in the fall, you know that’s when they are seasonally available and not imported from another country. Just like buying tomatoes in the summer means they weren’t grown in a greenhouse or hydroponically. Getting produce local and seasonally can help you reduce your carbon footprint.

How to Eat Seasonally
The first step to eating seasonally is to know when produce is available seasonally. Most of this is obvious when you walk into your grocery store: seasonal produce is often displayed front and center, and bountiful. Better yet, visit your local farmers markets. This is the ultimate way to eat seasonally. If your local farmer is growing it, you know it’s in season and fresh. Eating seasonally helps your community and can help make you healthier.