Why Local & In-Season Produce Matters for Your Health
This morning, while sipping your coffee or tea, did you happen to wonder where those beans or leaves were harvested? What about the fruit in your smoothie? Did you assume they were picked in their natural growing season at peak ripeness?
Most of us don’t invest the time to mindfully source our foods and that’s a missed opportunity for your health and your wallet. Today we’re reviewing the top five reasons to choose both local and in-season fruits and veg, plus two great resources to find out what’s in season and how to get it farm to table!
1. Nutrient Density
First, and arguably most important, local and in-season produce is more nutritionally dense. This means more vitamins and minerals are available in that fruit or vegetable for your body to utilize. The longer produce spends on a truck or in storage before being delivered to you, the greater the loss of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. (1)
2. Lower Cost
Second, if nutrient density isn’t convincing enough, foods that are grown locally and purchased seasonally are less expensive. This is because the farmers need to do less to encourage a bountiful crop and they don’t need to factor in transportation and delivery costs.
3. Fresher Flavor
Third, fruits and vegetables harvested locally and in-season are fresher and taste significantly better. Because local produce has a shorter distance to travel, farmers can pick at the crop’s peak ripeness, which means more delicious and flavorful food. Conversely, foods harvested in other countries must be picked before ripe so it can make the trip overseas, and to your local market, without spoiling.
4. Less Chemicals
Fourth, seasonal food grown locally needs fewer “interventions”. For certain produce to be available year-round, post-harvest treatments, known as ripening agents, are used. These include chemicals, gases, and heat processes. (2) Some produce, like apples, pears, carrots, and celery, may be coated with an edible film to protect it. (3) Other produce, like strawberries, lettuce, melons, and grapes, may be treated with anti-browning agents so it artificially is kept from rotting. (4) Then, the same produce may be treated with a chemical called ethylene, which triggers the ripening process to improve fruit color and quality. (5)
5. Support Healthy Farmers
Lastly, purchasing in-season and local is a great way to vote with your dollar. I’d much rather support a local farmer who avoids ripening agents, anti-browning chemicals, and heat-treatment that kill precious nutrients. More money spent locally means the incentive farmers have to produce crops which directly benefit our health. It’s a win-win!
Seasonal Produce Near You
To find out what’s growing in and near your zip code right now check out seasonalfoodguide.org, an educational resource that shares what’s in season and offers a little bit about that fruit or vegetable.
Then let’s find local farms! localharvest.org is a great way to find farmers' markets and CSAs (community-supported agriculture) to source delicious, local, seasonal fruits and veggies.
Mindfully sourcing in-season fruits and vegetables supports your health, your wallet, and your local economy. Choosing seasonal produce is a great way to boost nutrient density and avoid many toxic chemicals that otherwise would have made their way onto your plate.
Sources
1. Mesenburg, Mary, et al. “Why Local Food Is Better For You.” Rodale Institute, 25 Apr. 2019, rodaleinstitute.org/blog/why-local-food-is-better-for-you/.
2. Mahajan, P V, et al. “Postharvest Treatments of Fresh Produce.” Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences, The Royal Society Publishing, 5 May 2014, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4006
3-5. Id.