What is Considered Seasonal Eating?
Seasonal eating is the consumption of fruits and vegetables grown during the different months throughout the year.
According to the following research on Seasonality and dietary requirements, “Seasonality can be defined as either globally seasonal (i.e. produced in the natural production season but consumed anywhere in the world) or locally seasonal (i.e. produced in the natural production season and consumed within the same climatic zone).”
In this article, I will focus on discussing the benefits of consuming local seasonal produce for the geographic zones 4 - 6 (resource: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map).
Temperature scale used to define USDA hardiness zones. These are annual extreme minima - an area is assigned to a zone by taking the lowest temperature recorded there in a given year (resource).
I realize that depending on your location, there is certain produce that is impossible to obtain locally - bananas, avocados, oranges, etc., which we love to consume and are available year round in most of the developed world, so I will not be including them in my infographics.
Benefits of Consuming Local Seasonal Produce
greater Nutritional variety
Consuming seasonal produce means that you are not eating the same fruits and vegetables year-round, which leads to dietary variety. That is essential for getting vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other phytonutrients, which make your microbiome as happy as can be!
Support of Local Economy
By buying locally, consumers not only support the farmers, but also establish a sense of community. It is one thing to buy produce at the grocery store that has traveled a long way to reach its final destination and totally different to buy at the local market where you get to chat with the farmers, hear their story, get some great tips on maintaining freshness and overall establish a connection.
More Sustainable
Buying from local farmers means the produce has been minimally processed, has traveled a short distance to reach its final destination and may have connection to local ancestral cultures, which makes it a lot more sustainable than produce at big-chain grocery stores.
Lower Prices
A great incentive to buy seasonal produce is that prices are lower when produce is in season. For example, berries are a lot more affordable during the summertime than during the winter.
Higher Nutritional Value
Seasonal produce tends to be a lot more flavorful and nutritious, which makes it more enjoyable. Tomatoes bought in the winter have nothing on summertime tomatoes, especially if they are from your local farmers market, the taste will be amazing.
Seasonal Produce by Month (zones 4 - 6)
Below is a preview to my resolution for this year (it is 2024, in case anyone is reading this article in the future :)), which is to post infographics with seasonal fruits and vegetables every month. Along with these infographics, I plan to develop inspiring recipes to help both you and me eat as much as possible according to the seasons.
