Summertime is finally here, and for me that means weekend trips to the local farmers’ market. The farmers’ market is a great place to buy local produce, fresh herbs, legumes, grains, cheese and more. Best of all, you’re always guaranteed to find the freshest of what’s in season! With an abundance of fruits and vegetables in season these summer months, buying local has never been easier or tastier.
In July, look for the following local in-season produce:
- Fruits: Apricots, Berries, Cherries, Currants, Gooseberries, Peaches, Plums, and Watermelon
- Vegetables: Beets, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Corn, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas and many more![1]
[caption id="attachment_1715" align="aligncenter" width="660"]
Local herb stand at the Ottawa Farmers’ Market at Lansdowne[/caption]
Buying local is not only a great way to get the freshest quality ingredients, but you’re also doing your part in supporting the local community.
Check out these added benefits of buying local:
- Fresher food: Did you know that the average meal travels 1200 km from the farm to plate?2 Buying local means knowing your food was grown in the nearby community, not shipped from a different country. This results in fresher food that requires less processing and preservation to prevent spoilage.[2]
- Investing in the community: Buying food at a local farmers’ market means supporting the local economy, farmers, and creating more jobs in your community.
- Helping the environment: The lower transportation time and reduced emissions means a lesser environmental impact2, something we can all feel good about.
For a full list of fruits and vegetables that are in season throughout the year, check out Foodland Ontario’s easy-to-read Availability Guide.
With raspberries in season this month, why not pick some up at your local farmers’ market and try our refreshing Raspberry Banana Sorbet!
Stay Grounded,
Emily
Written in collaboration with Samantha Nesrallah, RD, MPH(c), nutrition volunteer
References
- https://www.ontario.ca/foodland/page/availability-guide
- http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/food-and-our-planet/food-and-climate-change/?gclid=CjwKEAjwvr3KBRD_i_Lz6cihrDASJADUkGCanWzgNwKt6obct4RjKDoOZ_7-F9rpq3gEDc8GCauXOBoC71Tw_wcB
- http://www.eatrightontario.ca/en/Articles/Farming/Food-production/Benefits-of-buying-local-food.aspx