We live in a world where we can find watermelon in December and Orange in July. However, what fun is it to eat something in off season? Nature has a rhythm and one of the finest ways to align yourself with it is to enjoy the seasonal fruits it gives us. We often forget that every fruit has a natural growing season. Just because you can have something whole year doesn't mean you should have it. Every fruit is beneficial in its own season. Besides that, choosing to eat seasonal fruits can save money, improve your diet, and be a reason to support the local economy.
Fruits, in their own seasons, are fresher, more nutritious, and more flavorful. This blog is all about discovering the health benefits of seasonal fruits, knowing about the seasonal fruits nutrition, learning why eat seasonal fruits. We will also let you know the seasonal fruits list along with the advantages of eating seasonal fruits so you can have this information handy.
Health Benefits of Seasonal Fruits
Higher & Better Nutrition
The Department of Agriculture and Nutrition scientists did a research which is a proof that there is a higher retention of Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants in the fruits that we harvest in their peak seasons.
Another study done by the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis says that fruits like oranges, kiwis, strawberries, loose their levels of Vitamin C if they're stored in cold for too long.
So, this is evidently proven that eating fruits while they're in season ensures that you're consuming the most of the nutrients found in them.
Improved Digestive System:
Seasonal fruits helps in improving different functions of the body during different times of the year. Certainly fruits like Watermelon and Peaches are rich in water and electrolytes, which means that if we eat these fruits in summers they'll keep the bodies hydrated in extreme heat.
On the other hand, fruits like apples and pears which grow in fall and winter seasons have high fiber and pectin. Both of these components, in particular, are beneficial for improving gut health and digestive systems of human body.
Eating fruits while they are in season results in supporting your body to adopt the environmental shifts which happen with changing seasons.
Better Immunity
Natural immune boosters are Vitamin C and Flavonoids and we can find both of these immunity boosters in fruits like oranges, pomegranate, and grapefruit. Seasonal fruits have natural immunity boosters which can support your body's seasonal needs, These boosters can protect yourself from the seasonal illnesses.
Answering the Main Question: Why Eat Seasonal Fruits?
The fruits which we naturally harvest are called seasonal fruits. They grow at certain times and regions of the world. Naturally harvested fruits grow in alignment with the climate and seasonal soils which is why these fruits don't need extensive preservations, chemical treatments, or refrigeration.
If nature has given strawberries in summer and citrusy fruits in winters then this is how it wants us to have these fruits. Let's look at the advantages of eating seasonal fruits;
Eating seasonal fruits is a lifestyle more than a personal choice just for health benefits. This lifestyle supports environment and local farmers.
Wondering what to do with all that fresh fruit? Make this vibrant summer fruit salad it’s hydrating, sweet, and ready in minutes.
Before chopping your fruit, make sure it’s stored right! This guide on how to keep fruits and veggies fresh will help you get the most flavor out of every bite.
Advantages of Eating Seasonal Fruits
1. More Flavorful
Have you ever felt difference in the tastes of the same fruits? If yes, then it is because the most flavorful ones are picked in their natural seasons when they're perfectly ripe and picked at the right time. Meanwhile, the bland ones are picked earlier, transferred to different places and they are made to ripe artificially.
Look at this easy recipe of No bake Mango Cheesecake.
2. Pocket Friendly
According to a USDA report, fruits that are in season are cheaper due to the low costs of production and transportation required to bring them to the local market. This is why the seasonal fruits are more budget-friendly.
3. Favorable for Local Economy
Buying seasonal fruits from local market is favorable for local farmers. Moreover, it also supports the local economy because it keeps the cash flowing within the country.
4. Eco-Friendly
Eating seasonal fruits results in being environmentally responsible. Seasonal fruits involve fewer resources used on their production. Center for Sustainable Systems, a study from the University of Michigan, found that seasonal eating can reduce greenhouse gas emission up to 10%. This makes it positive for the environmental sustainability.
Seasonal Fruits List
Let's look at the fruits that are available seasonally in a year. This list is based on the harvest cycle of U.S.A.
| Seasons | Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter |
| Available Fruits | Strawberries Apricots Pineapples Cherries | Watermelon Mangoes Blackberries Blueberries Peaches Plum Honey melon Nectrines | Apples Grapes Pomegranates Cranberries Pears | Oranges Kiwi Tangerines Persimmons |
Pro Tip: Put this table in printed form on your fridge to keep a track of seasonal fruits. This can be a guide for the fruit shopping.
Breakdown of Seasonal Fruits Nutrition
We have talked enough about how seasonal fruits are loaded with nutrition. Let's have a look at comprehensive list where all of the nutritional breakdown is writte.
| Fruits | Availability | Nutritional Values |
| Apples | Fall | Fiber, Vitamin C |
| Mangoes | Summer | Vitamin C, Vitamin A |
| Watermelon | Summer | Hydration, Vitamin C, Vitamin A |
| Oranges | Winter | Vitamin C, Potassium |
| Pineapples | Spring | Fiber, Carbohydrates, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 |
Final Thoughts
Seasonal fruits are a gift from nature. They are made to give the nutrients that are needed by our bodies. When you eat with season, you thrive with it. Not only nutrients that are good for health, but seasonal fruits are also associated with economic stability, environment sustainability, and budget friendliness.
When you visit the grocery store, do not pick strawberries in December. Instead, keep track of seasonal fruits with FoodVLove and get them.
FAQs:
Seasonal fruits bring more flavors, more nutritious values, and more freshness. These fruits are harvested when they're fully ripe and contain more vitamin and antioxidants.
Local farmers' markets have seasonal fruits in abundance along with this many local grocery stores label the fruits as "local" or "seasonal". For your ease, remember that citrusy fruits are seasonal in winter and berries are seasonal in summer/spring.
Yes. When a fruit is in season, it is available in abundance due to which they are sold at cheaper rates. This helps you in saving money.
Eating seasonal fruits and vegetables offers better flavor, higher nutritional value, lower cost, and supports local farmers. They are fresher, harvested at peak ripeness, and often require fewer preservatives or transport, making them a healthier and more sustainable choice.
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