Happy Fall! Are you excited for the leaves to change colors and cozy vibes? Or do you wish the long days and warm weather would last forever?
Regardless of which boat you’re in, the season will inevitably change every 3 months. This is due to changes in the Earth’s axis which impacts climate and has a domino effect on environments and organisms. One crucial change from summer to fall is the variety of produce available.
You might be thinking that you can still buy the same foods at Kroger or Harris Teeter as you could the summer--but that doesn’t mean that you should. Let me explain what I mean!
Climate and environmental changes impact the foods that are grown and harvested in our region. Seasonal Food Guide is a helpful resource that defines seasonal food as, “produce that is purchased and consumed around the time that it is harvested.” For the fall in Virginia, seasonal foods include apples, chestnuts, Asian pears, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots and much more. Check out the Food Guide for a complete list.
So why should we care to eat foods in season? Because it is tastier, fresher and more nutritious than food consumed out of season!
When produce isn’t in season in our region, that usually means it was grown far away in a warmer climate. The fruits were likely picked early so they could ripen during the transport process. According to Dairy Discovery Zone, “nutrients in foods can break down over time”, so this produce may have far fewer nutrients by the time you eat them. This results in less nutritious fruits and vegetables, but you can likely taste the lack of freshness too!
Beyond the health aspects, eating seasonal produce has environmental implications. This is largely due to the fact that when we eat seasonally, we are usually also eating locally. When produce is harvested and consumed locally, they do not require long distances for transport; thus decreasing the amount of harmful vehicle emissions going into the environment. Not only does eating local, seasonal produce positively impact the environment but it supports farmers and fuels our local economy. And speaking of economies–seasonal produce is often cheaper at stores because there is a high volume of food that needs to be purchased and replaced.
So now that we know the benefits of eating seasonally, how can we incorporate this into our lives to have a more sustainable and varied diet?
Here are some simple ways to eat with the season:
Take a visit to your local farmers market!
Look for “local” labels at the grocery store.
Try some new recipes! Here is one for a simple sauteed cabbage or a more advanced carrot cake.
However you choose to move forward, I urge you to embrace the changing of the seasons and enjoy all that Earth’s cycles have to offer us.
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