For most of human history, we have only eaten seasonal produce. Our diet consisted of whatever fruits and vegetables were available during a specific time of the year. We neither needed nor craved exotic fruits and vegetables.
However, the combined forces of globalisation and consumerism have turned that food production and distribution system upside down. Supermarkets now stock out-of-season fruits and veggies imported from all corners of the world.
In most cases, imported food gets harvested before it has fully ripened. It is then treated with edible coating, ripening agents and preservatives to help extend its shelf life and maintain its shape and appearance. It is then transported across oceans or continents on ships, trains, and trucks and stored in warehouses before finally arriving at your local grocery store.
Why You Should Choose Seasonal Produce
In comparison, eating local, seasonal fruits and vegetables offers various benefits.
Food Tastes Better
If you have picked a cherry from its vine and eaten it, you will intuitively know that nothing can compare to its taste. Food harvested in season and consumed shortly afterwards looks, tastes, and smells better than food grown out of season, transported over long distances, or treated with chemicals.
Has a Lower Environmental Impact
Eating local, in-season produce has a much lower carbon footprint than consuming imported or out-of-season produce. Just imagine the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced in producing a crop out of season, transporting it over thousands of miles, and storing it for weeks.
Saves You Money
Buying and consuming local produce ensures you don’t break the bank while trying to feed yourself. Since seasonal produce is abundant and mostly grown locally, you can buy it in bulk and at far lower prices.
Supports Local Farms and Businesses
By buying locally and seasonally, you help support farms and businesses built around agriculture. Going to the local farmers market allows you to purchase the freshest produce and mix and mingle with the local community.
Variety of Foods
Each season bestows us with different fruits and vegetables suitable for that particular time of the year. This way, we don’t stick to a specific kind of produce for long and add variety to our palate regarding color, nutrients, and taste.
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Seasonal Food is Full of Nutrients
While local, seasonal food is environmentally friendly and easy on your pocket, its most significant benefit is nutrient density.
Full of Vitamins
Imported food loses much of its vitamin content during transportation and storage. However, seasonal fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins when picked at peak ripeness.
For example, tomatoes in summer are high in vitamin C, and leafy vegetables harvested during spring are high in vitamin K. Likewise, carrots produced in the fall are high in beta-carotene, which our body converts to vitamin A for aid in vision and immune function.
Higher Mineral Content
Our body’s needs for different minerals change with the change of seasons. Seasonal vegetables, particularly root vegetables, are well-known for their high potassium and magnesium content.
Sweet potatoes and beets are high in these minerals, and their consumption during winter helps support our heart health and muscle function.
Higher Antioxidant Levels
Our body needs antioxidants to fight oxidative stress and reduce inflammation. Seasonal fruits and vegetables offer higher levels of these antioxidants than frozen or canned foods.
Berries picked in summer, like blueberries and strawberries, are packed with anthocyanins, an antioxidant that helps protect against type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It also helps with memory and the overall health of your brain.
Improved Hydration
We sweat a lot during the summer months, and besides water, there is an abundance of seasonal fruits and vegetables with high water content to keep us hydrated.
For example, cucumbers and watermelons are juicy, refreshing ways to stay hydrated, as they are mostly water (as high as 90% water content). Eating these fruits and veggies in summer also has the added benefit of other nutrients and minerals for your overall health.
High In Fiber
Seasonal produce tends to have a higher fibre content. Fibre is essential for digestive health, controls blood sugar levels, and helps maintain overall heart health.
To keep your gut healthy with ample fibre, eat seasonal asparagus in spring, berries in summer, apples in fall, and Brussels sprouts in winter. These fruits and vegetables also come loaded with essential minerals and antioxidants.
Summing Up
Seasonal fruits and vegetables offer many advantages, both individually and collectively, over out-of-season imported produce. You get to savour the variety of in-season, colourful fruits and veggies that are fresh and full of nutrients, support the local economy, and help dent the global greenhouse gas emissions.
But there is nothing wrong with occasionally indulging in an exotic fruit or vegetable from the tropics. This produce often helps sustain the small farmers producing these crops and contributes to the overall diversity and availability of all kinds of food across the globe.
