Four reasons why we should eat seasonal fruits and vegetables

1.       Higher nutrient content

Research suggests foods grown (and consumed) in season are more nutrient dense than those grown out of season. In order for certain highly perishable foods to be available out of season, ripening agents are often used after harvesting which interrupts the natural growing process. Fruits and vegetables have the highest nutrient content the day they’re harvested so needless to say, storing them post-harvest or transporting them around the world may result in lower nutrient levels!

2.       It’s better for the environment

It’s easy to forget (or ignore!) how far the food we buy has travelled by the time it reaches the supermarket shelf. Buying local, seasonal foods is a great way to reduce the environmental impact of what goes on your plate - it requires less packaging, less transportation (equalling fewer emissions), and reduces the need for chemicals.

3.       They taste better

This one needs little explanation – seasonal foods undoubtedly taste better. Have you ever noticed that strawberries just don’t taste as good during the winter months? They couldn’t be farther from the delicious berries we taste when strawberry picking in the summer. And surely no one would disagree that tomatoes taste so much better straight from the vine!

4.       It might save you money

When food is widely available it’s usually cheaper. You may have noticed how much cheaper berries are during the summer. My annual reminder to rethink my fresh blueberry intake is when the prices ramp up in the autumn. You can easily pay double the cost to buy out of season produce, which is unsurprising when you consider how far they’ve usually travelled.