eating with the seasons: summer

It’s no secret that we are advocates for shopping local and supporting farmers, but while we know how important it is, we are also aware that it’s not always easy to know what foods to shop for/eat during the various seasons.

This is the first of four articles (one per season) we are sharing to help you understand which foods are “in season.”

But first, why is it important to eat according to the seasons? Here is a list of our top 6 reasons:

Support local food and farmers. We have an entire post all about this for you to learn from and enjoy!
Foods in season are more nutrient dense. Seasonal food usually comes from your local farm, and so therefore produce is picked at its peak, retaining the most nutrients.
Costs less. It’s the law of supply and demand. When foods are in season, there is typically an abundance of them and thus they cost less than when they are not in season.
Better for the environment. Eating with the seasons requires less fossil fuel for shipping, since most of the food you’ll consume will come from local sources.
Top quality and flavor. This goes hand-in-hand with #2, but when produce is picked fresh, it also retains flavor and quality. The food also travels through fewer hands, making the quality superior to food passed through several parties.
Experimentation! Have you ever had a Chayote Squash? It’s on our list below, but many people have never tried it. Eating with the seasons allows you to try new foods you might not have otherwise thought to try. You are able to break out of the (apple, orange, spinach, kale) rut!