Cooking and Eating in Summer

Ready or not... summer has arrived! As if you couldn't tell from this heat... but let's talk about how to eat seasonally.

What is eating seasonally?

Eating seasonally means eating the fruits and vegetables that naturally grow during specific times or seasons of the year. They taste better and are also more nutritious. I will try and cover all the seasons as they come in the next year.

We’re always excited for summer produce and all the in season options we have. Summer produce is great when eaten raw and fresh-picked, but it’s also great to grill, roast, or try in new recipes.

Not to say, we don’t eat foods that are not in season, but have you ever compared a fresh strawberry to one that has been shipped from far away? There is a huge difference!!

Seasonal foods are often priced lower or are on sale at the grocery store. Since this produce is more available when it’s in season, it drives the prices down.

I get a sticker shock when I go to the grocery store these days, so this is a bonus. Seasonal foods are cheaper!

If you have the option to buy your produce from a farmer’s market, or local farm, you’ll also be contributing to your local economy and buying food sustainably. Local produce can be less expensive than at the grocery store because there are fewer packaging and shipping costs rolled into the cost of the food.

Summer Seasonal Foods:

· Apricots (May – July)

· Basil (June – Aug.)

· Beets (All year, June – Oct.)

· Bell peppers (July – Nov.)

· Blackberries (May – Sept.; peak from June – July)

· Blueberries (April – Sept.)

· Butter lettuce (June – Aug.)

· Cherries (May – Aug.)

· Corn (May-Sept.)

· Cucumber (May – Aug.)

· Eggplant (July – Oct.)

· Green beans (May-Oct.)

· Honeydew melons (June – Oct.)

· Nectarines (May – Aug.)

· Peaches (May – Sept.; peak in July – Aug.)

· Plums (May-Oct.)

· Raspberries (July – Oct.)

· Shallots (June – Sept.)

· Strawberries (April – June)

· Summer squash (June – Aug.)

· Tomatillo (June – Aug.)

· Tomatoes (June – Aug.)

· Watermelon (June – Aug.)

· Zucchini (June – Aug.)

We love the idea of buying into a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), which allows you to buy a "share," so you get fresh produce regularly. CSAs are beneficial both for the farmer and consumer, as it allows the farmer to get paid upfront for their crops and the consumer receives ultra-fresh produce. They usually function year-round too! Google the local CSA where you live and see what it entails.

Try to incorporate some of this in-season produce into your week - you won't regret it!

All material was gathered and researched through my amazing fellowship program, The Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.

https://integrativemedicine.arizona.edu/ ,

https://www.ifm.org and

https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org