Tis the Season

July is one of my favorite months of the year. It’s time for vacation, the beach, sunshine, and loads of fresh produce!  July and August are the peak months of the growing season in most parts of the country.  I love going to the farmers’ market this time of year and loading up on seasonal goodies like blueberries, tomatoes, peppers, melons, peaches, and more.  Here are my top reasons to buy produce locally in season:

1.)    It tastes better. When food is not in season locally, it’s either grown in a greenhouse or shipped in from other parts of the world. Both affect taste. Think you don’t like fruits and vegetables? Try eating them locally and in season. A local tomato in August tastes nothing like the mealy greenhouse-grown tomatoes you’ll find at the grocery store in January.

2.)    It’s more nutritious. It’s a known fact that food loses nutrients the more time that passes between farm and table.

3.)    It’s cheaper. Abundance usually translates into lower cost. Try buying strawberries in January vs. June and you’ll see what I mean.

4.)    It ensures variety, which ensures you get all the nutrients you need. While both dark leafy greens and strawberries are high in Vitamin C, they have a whole different array of micronutrients, antioxidants, and phytochemicals. I fill up on dark leafy greens in the fall and typically only eat strawberries in the summer.

So get out to your local farmers’ market this month and eat the season’s bounty! Visit www.localharvest.org to find a farmers’ market near you.

Posted by Nicole Holovach, RD