5 Reasons To Eat Seasonal Produce This Spring
Spring is here and that means a new wave of seasonal produce is hitting the market! As the longer and warmer days start rolling in, you may have noticed your body is desiring lighter and more refreshing foods. This is a natural response to your body wanting to cleanse itself from the heavier foods we typically eat during Winter.
If the thought of eating seasonally appeals to you, there’s no better time than Spring to start fresh and fill your basket with a range of colourful and delicious fruits and vegetables. In today's modern world, we have access to any foods we want at any time of the year (thanks globalisation), however eating seasonally can greatly benefit our health, planet, and even wallet.
Seasonal produce is highly nutritious
Seasonal produce is picked when the fruit or vegetable has fully developed and is ready to eat. This means the product has had more exposure to the sun and soil which results in it containing higher levels of antioxidants when compared to plants that have been grown using a sun lamp.
Fresh fruit and vegetables taste better
How many times have you bought fresh fruit and vegetables from the market and thought that it tastes a thousand times better than the standard supermarket produce? Every time! This is because freshly picked fruit and veg have been allowed to fully ripen in the sun, making them sweeter, juicer, more vibrant, and extra fragrant.
Supports the body’s natural healing process
Fruits and vegetables grown in each season offer different essential nutrients that our bodies require to thrive during those specific months. Spring is the season for renewal and resetting. Spring foods embrace all things fresh, light, and nutritious as your body wants to gently cleanse itself from the heavier Winter foods.
Seasonal produce can save you money
The price of seasonal foods is simply driven by supply and demand. The abundance of leafy greens grown and picked in Spring, allows us to purchase it at a cheaper price. This is because farmers would rather sell their produce at a lower cost than not at all.
Reduces plastic consumption
When you buy produce from large supermarkets they are either wrapped in plastic or you use a plastic bag after you pick the items from the shelves to avoid the food directly touching the trolley. Shopping at local markets will not only support farm-to-fork businesses, it also allows you to purchase fruit and vegetables without the excess plastic. Just don’t forget to bring your own bags with you!
What seasonal produce should you eat during Spring?
For the juiciest, sweetest, and most flavoursome fruit and veg around this time of the year, I recommended trying the below produce from your local farmers market!
Spring fruit:
- Apples
- Banana
- Grapefruit
- Lemons
- Mandarins
- Papaya
- Strawberries
- Watermelon (late spring)
Spring vegetables:
- Artichokes
- Asparagus
- Beansprouts
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Fennel
- Leeks
- Mushrooms
- Peas
- Silverbeet
- Spinach
- Sprouts
Local climates will affect what’s in-season
Local variations in climate may affect what’s in-season where you live. As a general rule of thumb, if there is a large supply of the product, it tastes amazing, and it is selling at a good price - it’s probably in season.
It is also important to note that all fruits and vegetables contain a range of nutrients that keep your body healthy. Don’t feel like you have to limit yourself to only “Spring vegetables” during Spring, however incorporating them into your diet will only benefit your health, taste buds, and wallet!