Falling Into Fresh Produce
Fall is officially here! This means the end of summer produce, but also the beginning of some delicious fruits and veggies. Read on to find out why it’s a good idea to eat produce that’s in season and local and for some of my favorite ways to prepare these fruits and veggies!
My CSA produce this week.
Why eat produce that is in season?
Today, we can eat most fruits and veggies year-round, but they tend to taste better if they are in season and eaten soon after being harvested. Most produce tends to start losing nutrients as soon as it is harvested, so the longer your food has to travel to get to you, the less nutritious it will be.
It’s also better for the environment if produce doesn’t have to travel as far to get to you. Here are some ways you can eat more local produce:
Try growing what you can on your own! We don’t all have a yard or space to grow fruits and veggies, but many herbs can actually be grown inside.
Shop at local farmer’s markets - this is a great way to support local farmers and get fresh and delicious produce.
Join a CSA (community-supported agriculture). CSA’s are a great way to try new fruits and veggies and support local farms!
Shop at co-ops, as many only offer produce from local farms.
Another added benefit for the environment is that most of the options listed above offer food sold in much less packaging than traditional grocery stores. Try bringing your own reusable bags for bonus points!
What is in season now?
Late September is prime produce time because there is still plentiful summer produce (like tomatoes, zucchini, and cucumber) in addition to more of what we’d think of as fall fruits and veggies (apples, pears, carrots, sweet potato, and winter squash).
Some of my favorite fruits and veggies currently in season in the Portland area include:
Apples
Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Corn
Garlic
Leafy greens, like kale and spinach
Onion
Peppers
Plums
Turnips
Many fruits and veggies span summer and fall seasons, some even going strong until December or January, such as kale, carrots, turnips, and spinach.
I’m enjoying the end of tomato and zucchini season while I can!
My favorite ways to use fall produce
I love finding new and creative ways to use fruits and veggies. Here are some of my favorite meal and snack ideas for fall produce:
Apples
Add chopped apples to oatmeal
Dip apple slices in peanut or almond butter
Make a healthy apple crisp
Broccoli
Roast and serve as a side
Cabbage
Chop and add to a stir fry
Roast it
Chop and serve in a slaw - I like this Asian slaw!
Carrots
Dip into traditional hummus - or try this no-bean hummus made from carrots
Peppers
Add to soups, stews, or chili
Dip into hummus or Greek yogurt-based dressing
Make stuffed bell peppers
Plums
Make these muffins
Eat them plain as a snack
What are your favorite fall fruits and veggies and how do you like to eat them?
