Page 15 - April-May HER

15 APRIL HER
EAround the Table
Locally sourced, seasonal foods
ating seasonal produce and benefiting the earth go hand in hand. Sustainability, cost-ef- fectiveness, and health benefits are all tied
together when
eating seasonal
and local. The
climate in Gar-
land County al-
lows us to grow
almost all the
most common
types of fruits
and vegetables.
By following the
growing seasons,
we can eat a variety of locally grown food and save money while getting the most nutrition for our food dollars.
By choosing locally produced, seasonal foods, you promote sustainability in a variety of ways. Whether it is from a local farmer or you have grown it yourself, you can know what production methods were used. If you intend to grow it yourself, contact your local Extension office for best practices and times to grow produce in your area. Local produce does not have to travel long distances to reach your home, helping reduce the carbon footprint created by that food.
When fruits and vegetables come into season in an area, the supply is bountiful, and less is spent on transportation, thus reducing our carbon footprints. Seasonal foods also tend to have lower prices. Not only will your food dollar stretch further by buying seasonal, but you also support the local economy. Plentiful supplies also make it a good time to pre- serve homegrown foods. This makes it possible to enjoy the bounty all year long while saving money and knowing how your food was prepared.
Health benefits go hand in hand with seasonal foods. Eating with the seasons encourages the consumption of a greater variety of foods. Instead of just eating the same canned fruits and vegeta- bles available at the supermarket, consuming an assortment of seasonal foods provides a greater variety of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients. The fresher the food, the more nutrition and flavor it has when harvested at the peak of ripeness. Produce that is picked days or weeks before consumption or is force-ripened tends to be less flavorful than fresh, vine-ripened fruits or vegetables.
Taking a trip to the local farmer’s market or growing food in a garden or pots allows you and your family an opportunity to reconnect to the earth. Children learn life skills and appreci- ation of the physical and economic cost of food by maintaining a home garden. Educating our children about the value of purchasing locally and seasonally can prepare them to make food choices that will sustain the health of their com- munity and themselves.
If you would like more information on how to grow seasonal fruits and vegetables as well as natural and nutritious ways to prepare or
Alison Crane
County Extension agent
preserve them, call the Garland County Cooper- ative Extension Service office at 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uaex.edu. Follow us on Facebook by liking our pages: @GarlandFCS, @garlandE-
GF, and @GarlandCountyEHC.
Alison Crane is a family and consumer sci-
ence agent with the Garland County Coopera- tive Extension Service.
HER MAGAZINE ¯ APRIL/MAY 2020 15