Fresh, Seasonal, and Sustainable Local Foods for Every Season By
We are fortunate to live in a region where farms grow a wide variety of produce. With such a delicious array of fruits and vegetables available at all times of the year, it’s easy for a Richmonder to plan and eat seasonal, local meals.
What does eating seasonally mean for you and your family? You get the full nutritional value from all of your food. When you buy locally, your family enjoys the healthy, sustainable benefits of dining on the freshest fruits and veggies from our area. Plus your food dollars go directly to our local farmers. It also just tastes so much better when you know it’s that fresh!
Seasonal menus vary, so we have some basic principles you can follow to make the most out of eating right in every season here in Virginia:
• In fall, look for autumn harvest foods like broccoli raab, Brussels sprouts, escarole, parsnips and of course October’s hallowed pumpkins.
• In winter, turn toward warming foods packed with nutrition. Colder weather produce includes nutritious collard greens, kale, scallions, winter squashes, chicories, and fennel.
• In spring, look for tender, leafy vegetables, lettuces like romaine and arugula, and asparagus. Many herbs including basil and thyme are in full force. And cherries and blueberries make their way to farmers markets in the spring.
• In summer, light, cooling foods like strawberries, melon, summer squash and zucchini. Also cooling fresh herbs like peppermint and cilantro should have a place on the table with salsas and herbal teas.
