About a century ago, people knew exactly when it was time to pick strawberries or which vegetable would grow best in their locality. But our modern lifestyle has made us forget about nature. Seasonal produces are those that are consumed or purchased around the time when they are harvested. Seasonal fruits and vegetables have enormous benefits. Read below to find out what they are:
Seasonal fruits and vegetables are fresher, tastier and have more nutrition in them than those out of season. Even though you might love to eat mangoes, the ideal time to relish them would be when they can be purchased directly from a local grower soon after harvest.
It is believed that eating with respect to the cycles of nature and consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables are not only good for health but also promote balance with the planet’s resources and its life forms.
The nutrient content in foods changes with seasons. For instance, the nutrient content of milk was found to be different in summers than that of winters. This was because of the change in the cow’s diet to fresh plants during summer. Researchers also discovered notable changes in the nutritional content of spinach that was harvested in summers than those harvested in winters.
Pesticides, waxes, and preservatives have been added to fruits and vegetables in order to preserve them out of their seasons and also to maintain their fresh looks. Pesticides and preservatives can cause damage to human health and thereby, eating seasonal can help prevent such ill effects.
When foods are stored or preserved for a long duration, they lose a lot of nutrients and antioxidants. Researchers found that spinach and green beans lost about two-thirds of their vitamin-c content within seven days of harvest.
Seasonal produce tastes better. Haven’t you noticed that the fruits or vegetables grown in your neighbor’s garden taste way better than the ones you buy from a grocery store? Such mass-produced foods tend to suffer a lack of flavor. Although selective breeding is done to meet the high demands, it only yields tasteless fruits and lackluster vegetables.
And needless to say, seasonal fruits and vegetables are cheaper! When a particular fruit or vegetable is in season, it is available in abundance and can be bought at a lower price.
It’s important to remember to wash your produce before you consume them. Fruits and vegetables are known to have residue of the pesticides used in growing them. Jerzy Górecki / Pixabay
