The best place to buy your veggies ain’t the grocery store

It’s that time of year! Time to shop local and get your veggies from a local farm or your own garden. 


It’s time for seasonal eating! 


What do I mean by seasonal eating? This is when fruits and vegetables are at their peak nutrient density. The longer produce stays on a vine, branch, or stem, the more nutrients the fruit or vegetable can store from the soil. Your produce will contain more micronutrients than the produce that has to travel many miles to the grocery store. 


Have you ever purchased fruits and vegetables at a farm stand or farmers market? They last longer than the produce you bought at the grocery store. 


Also, buying in season is more environmentally sustainable: 

  • The produce isn’t transported long distances in big trucks

  • There’s a smaller carbon footprint

  • It’s generally picked the day you buy it


So, lotsa bennies: 

✅Higher micronutrient value

✅More cost-effective

✅Better for the environment

✅Boosts the local economy

✅Supports a local family-run business

✅Adds greater variety to your diet


Here are some seasonal eating tips:

  • Start your own garden. You can grow many types of fruits and vegetables in containers.

  • Shop at a farmers’ market. That way, you can build a list of new foods and recipes to try. The USDA’s Local Food Directories can help you find farmers’ markets.

  • Learn how to preserve food. Canning, freezing, and dehydrating are all great ways to enjoy your seasonal finds year-round.

  • Keep your cooking simple. Seasonal ingredients are already at their best, so there’s no need to over-complicate the cooking.

Check out these online resources. The USDA’s SNAP-Ed Seasonal Produce Guide can provide more information on what’s in season where you live, and FoodPrint’s Seasonal Food Guide is also a great resource. 


Paul Reilly