by Kelly Roberts – Farm, Foodie, Fitness

When you walk into the grocery store are you suddenly overwhelmed by the rows and rows of produce? With all the talk of GMO’s, Imported Produce, Natural, No Artificial Ingredients, Fat-Free, Sugar-Free, No Added Hormones, Organic, Locally Supported, Farm Fresh, and every other marketing word the big companies throw out us, how do we really know what we’re buying? It’s all pretty confusing so the best way to learn to shop is seasonally. Yes it’s difficult in the winter because there isn’t as much to choose from, but now that our growing season is in full swing and summer is officially only three weeks away you can buy now and stock up for winter by preserving, canning, and freezing for the winter months.(Coming soon to another post!) And yes sometimes we do need to buy out season and that’s perfectly fine!

Why shop seasonally? In season fruits, vegetables, and herbs are cheaper, better tasting, picked at their peak of ripeness to get all the possible nutrients, they’re easier to find, and not trucked across the country saves on greenhouse gas emissions. (Doing your part in saving the planet!)

You can seasonally shop at farmers markets, most local grocery stores will often sell produce from area local farms, and most health food stores carry local produce if a farmers market is not close to you. You can also start your own garden – if you don’t have enough room in your backyard, you can always grow in containers. Growing produce and herbs in containers has gotten easier and easier over the years. There are specific kinds of tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and peppers perfect for container gardening. Not to mention how easily herbs can be grown in pots. You can also join a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), search here for some local offerings. Normally local farmers use little or no pesticides on their farms, making it a better choice for you and your family.

Here is a list of how to shop and what to buy seasonably. Some produce may vary by your location and region. Some seasons overlap and you can find them in multiple seasons throughout the year. Bonus!

Spring:

Apricots, Asparagus, peas, strawberries, mixed greens, mint, mushrooms, leeks, lemons, artichokes, spring and green onions, parsley, spinach, root vegetables, kale, rhubarb, lettuce, grapefruit, potatoes.

Summer:

avocados, peppers, basil, okra, peaches, cherries, blueberries, melons, garlic, carrots, figs, egg plants, zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, green beans, cilantro, mangoes, lima beans, celery, nectarines, and corn.

Fall:

Broccoli, cauliflower, shallots, pumpkins, grapes, pomegranates, limes, fennel, endive, chilies, collards, cranberries, winter squash, kohlrabi, salad turnips, swiss chard, apples.

Winter:

beets, turnips, rutabagas, parsnips, pears, onions, horseradish, clementines, cabbage, escarole, citrus, mandarin oranges, sweet potatoes.

For more information on seasonal vegetables click here.

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