Thanks to our modern supermarkets, millions are suffering from a condition I like to call seasonal food disconnection? This is the malady of not knowing which fruits or vegetables are currently in season. The confusion stems from the availability of non-seasonal fruits all year round. But take heart – The way to treat this condition is simple: Find out what’s growing locally and seasonally then pledge to become a seasonal consumer.
Author Barbara Kingsolver says all vegetables come from flowering plants, and all flowering plants have the same life cycle: sprouting, leafing, flowering, fruiting, then hoarding sugars into the roots. All fruits and vegetables are part of this cycle and their seasonality follows the pattern. Hence, if you can tell what your produce is – sprout or leaf or fruit or root – you can guess when in the season you should eat it.
Apart from the health benefits of eating food that are at their peak, it is also a cost effective approach to food shopping. Because seasonal items are in abundance when they are in season, most grocery stores stock up on these making them less expensive for you. So before you head to the grocery store, take a look at the list of fruits and vegetables that are in season in June.
APRICOTS are a good source of Dietary Fiber and Potassium, Vitamin A (also called retinol) that helps your eyes adjust to light changes when you come in from outside and also helps keep your eyes, skin and mucous membranes moist. and Vitamin C which aids the formation of collagen and helps maintain healthy gums and capillaries.
BEETS are highly nutritious and a “cardiovascular health” friendly root vegetable. Certain unique pigment antioxidants present in this root as well as their top greens have been found to offer protection against coronary artery disease and stroke, lower cholesterol levels in the body and have anti-aging effects.
BLUEBERRIES Apart from being a leader in antioxidant activity, a handful of this tiny fruit will meet your daily fiber requirement. An excellent source of manganese (an important player in bone development, converting proteins into carbohydrates and fats into food for energy) blueberries are also packed with vitamin C.
GREEN BEANS are a rich source of dietary fiber (9% per100g RDA) which acts as bulk laxative. It helps to protect the mucous membrane of the colon by decreasing its exposure time to toxic substances as well as by binding to cancer causing chemicals in the colon. They also contain high levels of vitamin A, flavonoid poly phenolic antioxidants such as lutein, zeaxanthin and ß-carotene.
STRAWBERRIES Given their amazing combination of phytonutrients–including flavonols, terpenoids, and phenolic acids— recent research has shown that inflammation can be improved by regular intake of strawberries.
Join the seasonal eating revolution and include other June growing fruits and vegetables like Cherries, Corn, Kiwi, Peaches, Peas, Nectarines, Watermelon and Yellow Squash.
Here are some great resources for checking What’s In Season in your area:
- Fruits & Veggies – More Matters
- Field to Plate Guide to What’s In Season
- Sustainable Table
- Slow Food USA
What are YOU eating in June? Share a link to your recipe below!
