The Benefits of Eating by the Season
You are probably used to seeing shiny, plump, bright red tomatoes in the grocery store 365 days a year. But did you know that tomatoes are only in season in Arizona seven months out of the year? Where did those tomatoes come from those other five months, and who is growing them?
These are questions that are not commonly asked by most shoppers as they browse the produce section of their local grocery store. But we should be asking these questions. And we should be more aware of what produce is in season, because shopping seasonally reaps so many benefits for the consumer, the farmer, and the planet! Outlined below are some of the major benefits to eating by the season:
The fruits and vegetables you eat will possess higher levels of nutrients.
Studies have shown that when you eat foods that are in season, those foods contain higher nutrient levels. For example, this study demonstrated that in-season broccoli bought from the grocery store had twice the amount of Vitamin C than broccoli bought from the same grocery store when not in season. When the broccoli was purchased in-season, it was sourced locally from the grocery store. When it was purchased out-of-season, it was sourced overseas.
Part of the reason for nutrient loss is time, as it takes a very long time to ship broccoli from another country. In-season and locally-sourced broccoli only takes a short amount of travel time in comparison (sometimes just down the street), so it is fresher and contains more nutrients for the consumer.
You’ll support sustainable practices that protect the environment.
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