Food

is security. Eating seasonally (and locally if we can) is something I think we, as humans, should all learn to embrace. It not only benefits us but everything that surrounds us. From the local farmers to the output of fossil fuels that are used for transport to the nutritional content that you would get in produce picked at the peak of its season. It's better for the ecosystems, the planet, and our bodies. There are so many benefits that it outweighs any downsides if there are any.

Don't get me wrong, to be able to eat what we want when we want is a luxury, but have you ever noticed that foods eaten in the right season are the most flavorful? For instance, tomatoes grown in the summer are the most delicious versus if you were to eat them any other time of the year. They are summer fruit so they do best in the summer. The same goes for any other plant that is grown in the right season. Local fruits and vegetables that are allowed to ripen fully on the mother plant will have higher amounts of nutrients, especially when compared to produce that is grown across the U.S. or even halfway across the world, tending to lose its nutrients in transit. Even produce that is relatively local but is being grown out of its season with the help of artificial heat/light and/or greenhouses does not taste the same and isn't nearly as healthy for you.

by Amber-Lynn McKey Marketing & Outreach Assistant

Mother Nature knows what to give us and when. For example, in the winter we have things like citrus fruits, root vegetables, leafy greens, and winter squashes like acorn, butternut, and many more. These are all filled with the kinds of nutrients that would benefit our bodies in the best of ways for that time of year. Many people tend to catch colds during those months and that is when citrus fruits are ready to pick and eat and they are loaded full of Vitamin C. This vitamin helps our bodies to fight free radicals and boost our immunity. It's like Mother Nature knows what ails us and what we need most.

Then along come the Spring months when the flowers bloom and the bees buzz around collecting pollen from those flowers, producing honey. Consuming local honey has been known to help support those trying to overcome allergies during that time. Indeed it is a most natural defense. This goes to show that eating locally and seasonally gives us nutrition that is tailored to our environment.

Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits including sun protection. It is found heavily in things like watermelon and tomatoes which are grown in the summer season when we need that kind of protection the most. Produce grown in the summer usually has a much higher water content which is what we need because we tend to become more dehydrated in the hotter months. Need I mention it again? Mother Nature.