Spring Bounty

Spring's freshest produce is popping up around the country, find out here some of the benefits to shopping seasonally and what to look forward to this spring.

Spring is here! It’s the time when farmers markets, green grocers and our local supermarkets experience an influx of spring fruits and vegetables. Most of us take for granted and forget how very lucky we are to be able to choose from a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round; and in fact it doesn’t even seem like the produce section in the supermarket varies much from season to season. But, if we pause for a minute, make a conscious effort and take a closer look at what foods are in season -meaning they are produced closer therefore in the ground longer - our meals will be fresher, more nutritious, flavorful, cost less, and on top of that when the season comes for your favorite fruit or vegetable you will truly enjoy and savor it at its best!

Luckily the coming months boast some of the most colorful and flavor produce of the year, so shop seasonally with SupermarketGuru to get the most nutrition for your buck!

Choosing freshly harvested seasonal produce not only supports a healthy diet, but may also lessen some of the adverse global effects caused by packaging and shipping produce long distances.

Eating “seasonally” will allow you to diversify your diet; you may discover some fruits and vegetables that you love and didn’t even know existed! As well as offering some great flavors, spring vegetables are true nutritional stars.

Strawberries, kiwis, all types of leafy greens, oranges, mangos, and asparagus are all great sources of the potent antioxidant and immune booster vitamin C. Just a reminder, vitamin C-rich foods help protect cells from free radical damage, help with vitamin E regeneration, improve iron absorption, and some believe vitamin C may shorten the duration or help prevent colds.

Many spring fruits and vegetables also serve up an excellent ‘dose’ of vitamin A, which functions to preserve and improve eyesight as well as help fight viral infections. Some of the best include: carrots, apricots, mangos, leafy greens including: spinach, kale, Swiss chard, mustard and dandelion greens, and more.

Snack on strawberries, apricots, kiwis, mangos, and oranges to taste the flavors and gain the nutritional benefits of springs best fruits.

Serve up, artichoke, asparagus, carrots, fava beans, peas, radishes, spring onions, and morel mushrooms as stand alone side dishes, showcasing springs finest flavors.

Use SupermarketGuru’s suggestions to make a shopping list, or ask the produce manager in your local supermarket to direct you to the freshest seasonal picks, as they vary regionally. Happy and healthy spring shopping and enjoy!