The Farmington Valley Health District recently completed the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Healthy Eating and Active Living is one priority area of the CHIP. In our efforts to advance the work of the CHIP we would like to highlight the benefits of eating local and seasonal foods.
What does it mean to eat local and seasonal? Eating local and seasonal means eating foods that are grown and harvested during their peak season and in your own community. This allows for the foods to be fresher and tastier, have more nutritious value and minimize any negative impacts that can occur due to transporting food long distances. Additionally, by purchasing local foods you are supporting local farmers and the local economy.
How can you eat local and seasonal foods? Visit your local farms, join a Community Support Agriculture (CSA), visit your local farmers markets, and/or purchase local foods from your supermarket. Local foods are sometimes highlighted at the grocery store. Be sure to eat foods when they’re in season and at their peak taste and nutritious value. Local Harvest is a website where you can search for local farms, CSAs, Farmers Markets and other produce locations by town. Another website is CTNOFA where you can find local farms by county.
How can you tell what’s in season? Visit the Seasonal Food Guide, select your state and the month and find what’s at its freshest. Another resource is the Seasonal Produce Guide from the USDA.
Do your part to support your local farmers, reduce the negative impacts on the environment by reducing the need for transporting food far distances, and get the most nutritious and tastiest foods possible by eating local and seasonal foods.
