When it comes to eating healthy, it’s not just about what you eat, but also when you eat it. This is where eating seasonal produce has the best of both worlds – it’s not only delicious but also has numerous health benefits:
Fresh and flavourful
In-season produce doesn’t undergo extended periods of artificial ripening or chilling. Such practices tend to reduce the flavour and nutrient value of fruit and veggies. Instead, it undergoes its natural ripening process and is eventually harvested when the time is right.
Nutritional
Have you ever noticed that during the winter, in-season vegetables like squash, kale, and Brussels sprouts in warm and comforting dishes can provide nutrients to support your immune system? Not to mention citrus fruits’ vitamin C boosts. On the other hand, during summer, sweet fruits can boost your energy for those hot days and provide carotenoids that play a role in fighting sun damage. Eating in-season thus means your nutritional needs are met.
Environmental benefits
Eating in-season produce reduces the demand for out-of-season produce, which requires things such as transportation, refrigeration, and hot houses, which all result in significant carbon emissions.
Budget-friendly
When the fruit and vegetables are in-season, local farmers usually end up with a bountiful harvest that ultimately reduces production costs – good news if you’re looking to tighten the belt on expenses.
Now that you’re aware of the pros that come with sticking to produce that’s in season, we’ve rounded up fruit and veggies to add to your autumn and winter grocery list:
Autumn’s fruit & veg
- Apples
- Aubergines
- Avocados
- Baby marrows
- Bananas
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Broccolli
- Brussel sprouts
- Butter beans
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chives
- Cucumber
- Figs
- Granadillas
- Grapefruit
- Grapes
- Gooseberries
- Hubbard squash
- Leeks
- Lemons
- Mandarins
- Mange tout
- Mushrooms
- Naartjies
- Onions
- Oranges
- Parsley
- Parsnips
- Pawpaws
- Peaches
- Pears
- Peas
- Peppers
- Pineapples
- Plums
- Pomegranates
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Spinach
- Sweet melon
- Sweet peppers
- Turnips
- Watermelon
Winter’s fruit & veg
- Apples
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Dates
- Fennel
- Figs
- Grapefruit
- Kale
- Kiwis
- Kumquats
- Leeks
- Lemons
- Limes
- Mandarins
- Melons
- Mushrooms
- Naartjies
- Oranges
- Paw paw
- Pears
- Peas
- Pineapples
- Radishes
- Spinach
- Sweet peppers
- Squash
- Turnips
- Watercress
ALSO SEE: Let’s welcome 2023’s avocado season!
Feature image: Getty Images
