Building a lifestyle around seasonal food facilitates the body’s natural healing process.
The natural cycle of produce is perfectly designed to support our health. For example, apples grow in the fall, and they are the perfect transition food that helps the body get rid of excess heat while cooling down before winter. In the spring, the abundance of leafy greens help us alkalize, detoxify and lose extra pounds after a long winter of heavier foods. In the summer we need to cool down and stay hydrated by eating more fruits, berries, cucumber, watermelon etc.
Produce that has been allowed to fully ripen in the sun tastes amazing and has optimal nutrition and flavor – crispy, fragrant, juicy and colorful. Food grown outside of their season or natural environments need a lot more human intervention to grow and look appealing. Oftentimes this requires the use of pesticides, waxes, chemicals and preservatives. We know how these toxic compounds can contaminate the water and soil and also our health.
Seasonal food is more likely to be locally produced as well, which reduces the load on our environment due to transport, or “food mileage.” By choosing local and seasonal food, you are also more likely to get a cleaner product. Seasonally fresh produce is picked when they’re ripe and fully developed. The plant has had more sun exposure, which means it will have higher levels of antioxidants! Produce that is purchased in season is more likely to be fresher, consumed closer to harvesting and higher in nutritional value. Some antioxidants such as Vitamin C, folate and carotenoids will rapidly decline in quality when stored for periods of time.
When farmers are harvesting a large amount of produce in season, the cost of the produce will go down. When the produce is locally sourced in season, travelling expenses and storage are not required, resulting in cost savings that are then passed onto the consumer. When we buy produce that is out of season, it is normally sourced from distant locations that have a different climate. This kind of produce can also be stored for long periods of time to offer a variety of produce all year round- however these factors will push the price up. When transporting crops out of season, they must be harvested early and refrigerated so they don’t spoil during transportation. Chilling will reduce the flavor and overall quality. When they get to their destination, they may need to be heated in a hot house to artificially ripen the produce before it goes onto the shelves. Unfortunately, this greatly reduces the natural flavor, while changing the texture and the taste. Think of those pale apples, flavorless tomatoes and limp, tasteless greens. You may find that the food might be half rotten inside or overly fibrous such as an out-of-season pineapple. Fruits and vegetables that are not consumed for long periods of time due to transportation and storage have a significant reduction in phytonutrient content. Large markets and grocers may buy out-of -season produce that has been gassed, irradiated (a burst of radiation to kill germs) and preserved in wax to extend shelf life.
Buying local also alleviates concerns regarding farming practices involving the use of harmful chemicals and food grown in contaminated soil. When fruits and vegetables are sourced overseas you can’t be sure what their regulations for pesticides, herbicides and fungicides are. Many countries across the globe have very relaxed laws about chemicals being sprayed on fruits and vegetables that other countries have banned due to their known harmful effects. Overseas agriculture may not regulate soil contamination tests to ensure land and soil quality. Some agricultural areas have been shown to have very high heavy metal and other toxic contaminants due to industrial sites inhabiting the same area.
Article about China’s farmland and the struggle with clean food
Buying and eating local is clearly the best way to go. From supporting local economies and farmers markets to benefiting from nature’s bounty of nutrition, local produce is good for everyone. It’s healthier, more cost effective, and tastes its best. Check out your local farmer’s market this week!