Did you know each fruit and vegetable has a specific time of year that it is harvested? In-season produce is packed with nutrients and flavor, better for the environment than out-of-season produce and can save you money!
What is seasonal produce?
Seasonal produce is food that is distributed and consumed soon after harvest.
While many crops in Florida are grown year-round, produce will still have seasonality, meaning each crop is harvested at a specific time of year.
Why eat seasonally?
Eating seasonally has a number of benefits including economic, environmental, and personal.
Out-of-season produce will be more expensive as it will likely be shipped from somewhere else. Buying locally and in season can help you save money and support a local farmer.
Eating seasonally also help the environment. As out-of-season produce usually needs to be transported, buying locally helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Buying your produce locally also means less chemicals and packaging needed to help it make to your table. Seasonal, local produce is less reliant on pesticides and plastic packaging usually needed for transport.
Seasonal produce also packs a punch! Fruits and veggies sold off-season are usually harvested early, not allowing them to reach their nutritional potential.
By buying in season, your produce will be more nutritious and flavorful!
Where to find seasonal food.
Visiting a farmer’s market is a great way of sourcing seasonal produce and helping out the local economy.
You can also start your own food garden. With just a few food staples, home grown gardens are a great way keeping your food seasonal and learning more about its importance along the way.
What’s in season in FL?
A few of the produce items currently in season in Florida are listed below:
- cabbage
- cucumber
- stawberries
- cauliflower
- tangerines
- snap peas
- spinach
- oranges
- broccoli
- bell peppers