Locally grown fresh produce offers the best of all worlds. By Jo Valenti, BSN, RN, Cumberland County Mental Health Advocate
Living in the Garden State, especially South Jersey, has a perk that some may not be aware of. Because this is a farming community, we have the opportunity to eat locally grown produce that has recently been harvested. It is impossible not to notice the hundreds of farmstands both large and small throughout the region, featuring dandelions in the spring, tomatoes and corn in the summer and pumpkins and apples in the fall. Some of these are varieties unheard of in the grocery stores. Case in point: I can’t wait to eat my next Stayman Winesap, my personal favorite. The sweet/tart taste and the juice running down your chin just cannot be beat!
Are there health benefits of seasonal eating? Let’s take a closer look.
Seasonal eating is defined as eating food that has been recently harvested by farmers. Before refrigeration and preservation, people just ate what they grew in their garden or what was available in the wild. Without planning to do so, they ate a rotating variety of nutritious food throughout the year. Because it was not processed, this food provided a diet high in vitamins and minerals. Studies have shown that the fresher the produce, the healthier it is to eat.
Fruits and vegetables that are allowed to ripen naturally and are consumed shortly after harvesting contain higher levels of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which protect against cancer and other serious diseases, compared with produce that has traveled long distances and must sit on grocery store shelves for long periods of time.
Not to forget the taste! Once you have eaten a freshly picked Jersey tomato, you realize the superiority. In our family, it is common during the summertime to include a simple plate of sliced tomatoes as a side dish with our meal.
To promote the excellent quality of New Jersey produce, in 1984 the state created Jersey Fresh which is the longest running state agricultural marketing program in the country. The Jersey Fresh brand promises consumers that the product is the freshest it can be. New Jersey grows more than 100 varieties of fruits, vegetables and herbs including blueberries, peaches, bell peppers, squash, tomatoes and cranberries. When a consumer chooses Jersey Fresh produce they are guaranteed to get a certain quality standard in the size, shape, and coloring of that item.
There are even economic benefits to seasonal eating because when you purchase food locally, the money stays in your community and creates more jobs for local people. Buying locally grown, seasonal food is often cheaper because the costs of processing and shipping are avoided.
Seasonal eating even helps the planet. To keep fresh fruits and vegetables that are out of season stocked on their shelves, grocery stores must pay to transport food by truck, boat or plane from other cities, states or countries. That transportation is factored into the price you pay. The gas and oil to power these big cargo vehicles create carbon dioxide, contributing to the greenhouse gases largely responsible for climate change. When we buy locally grown food, we reduce emissions and help the earth in the process.
What’s not to love about seasonal eating? There are so many benefits. We have so many delicious options year-round. Nutritious and tasty food at low-cost to keep our minds and bodies healthy is a South Jersey hidden gem.
https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/why-eat-seasonally
https://foodprint.org/eating-sustainably/real-food-encyclopedia
https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/md/prog/jerseyfresh.shtml
The Cumberland County Mental Health and Addictions Board actively promotes awareness of stigma and the need for public education regarding mental health and addiction. The Board meets monthly, and the public is invited to attend. Refer to the meeting schedule on the Cumberland County website for meeting dates.
The Board is also seeking new members. Interested persons should send a letter of interest and a resume to Melissa Niles, Cumberland County Human Services, 70 W. Broad Street, Bridgeton, NJ 08302 or melissani@cumberlandcountynj.gov
