Harvest the Benefits: Eating Seasonally for a Healthier, Stronger, Wisconsin

Hello everyone! I’m Claire, a senior Dietetics student at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point, and I’m so excited to be working with Farmshed this spring semester! As a part of my Community Nutrition and Food Systems course, I am interning with Farmshed to learn about the workings of community nutrition. I am especially interested in public health, communities, and sustainable food systems. My dream job is working with the community to improve access to healthy, delicious, and fulfilling food! Previously, I’ve attended conferences and public health immersions to learn about disparities in healthcare. I’ve

worked as a nutrition education intern at the Children’s Imaginarium, planning and executing nutrition STEM programming for children of all ages. I love working with children, but I also find incredible value in nutrition education for all members of my community! I am happy to be a part of Farmshed’s mission of sustainability, supporting local food, and providing good, healthy food for all!

Spring is officially here, and with the change in seasons also comes an exciting change in produce! Seasonal eating is a popular conversation in the nutrition and sustainability world, but what does “eating seasonally” really mean? Seasonal eating is just that, eating in alignment with the seasons! Every plant has its own unique growth requirements such as different amounts of sunlight, water, soil types, and temperatures. Therefore, certain fruits, vegetables, and herbs grow happily in the summer while others grow better in the fall or spring. To eat in season is to eat what is currently being harvested, which varies between regions. The spring seasonal produce in Wisconsin is different than in the south, for example. Today we have access to all types of produce throughout the whole year, so why is eating seasonally important? Eating with the seasons has amazing benefits for personal health, community health, and sustainability.

Produce is harvested at its optimal ripeness, flavor, and nutrition. Eating seasonally not only improves the nutritional quality of your meal, but it also makes that meal more delicious! Think about eating a locally grown apple in the fall; it is sweet, juicy, and has an incredible depth of flavor. Now, think about eating an apple that was purchased from a grocery store in the spring. It might still be delicious (who doesn’t love apples!), but it won’t have the same robust flavor that a fall harvested apple has. If you are prioritizing flavor, look for produce items that are in season to have optimal flavor! 

Eating seasonally has nutritional benefits as well. Produce is harvested at its peak nutritional value, meaning it has the highest amounts of vitamins and minerals. It would seem Mother Nature knows what nutrients we need during certain seasons! Spinach is seasonal to Wisconsin winters, it is also a great source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant, it repairs cell damage and assists in immune function. Spinach is also a source of vitamin A, which enhances the function of white blood cells (immune cells that fight illness). Wisconsin winters are cold and flu season. Consuming seasonal produce, like spinach, provides nutrients that your body needs to fight off illness. Eating seasonally ensures that we consume the most nutrients that fruits and vegetables can provide to support our health.

Not only does seasonal eating benefit individuals, but it also benefits the whole community! Seasonal produce can be consistently sourced from local Wisconsin growers and farmers, whereas produce that is not in season must be sourced from a different region or country. Eating in season is an amazing way to support your local farmers! Farmers are struggling in today’s economy due to large farming companies dominating our food industry and decreases in federal funding support, making it harder for small family farms to succeed. Purchasing produce from local growers helps small farms thrive. Consuming local produce not only supports the local food economy, but it also supports sustainability. The term “food system” refers to all the steps food needs to take to get from the farm to your plate. A shorter food system is more sustainable because it takes less resources. Produce that is not in season may be coming from across the country, or even overseas. That transportation process increases the amount of energy used and carbon emitted. Growing produce out of season requires more energy to make up for the lack of natural resources which could include greenhouse cultivation, additional heating, additional water, refrigeration, or storage. Eating seasonally supports your health, your community, and your planet!

Practicing seasonal eating sounds simple, but starting can feel overwhelming. There are many ways to include seasonal food in your diet. The farmer’s market is a great starting point! At the farmer’s market there are a variety of local goods; produce, meat, bread, pastries, dairy, seasonings, and more. Shopping at the farmer’s market is a great way to support your community’s food producers and be more involved in the local food scene. If seasonal eating is new to you, you may also be encountering new types of produce. It is difficult to learn how to use all these new foods but shopping at the farmer’s market means you can discuss the food with the farmer. Asking questions on how to prepare a new food, what it tastes like, or how it was grown, can be helpful to begin eating seasonally. 

Farmers want people to care about their products! Asking questions and building relationships with your local farmers strengthens the community. Knowledge is power! Keeping in the know about what foods are in season makes the seasonal eating process simpler. There are amazing resources online for this information: Gather Wisconsin, Seasonal Food Guide, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Women Infants and Children Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC) all have comprehensive seasonal produce guides. Creating meals with unfamiliar produce can be challenging, but Farmshed’s website has delicious, seasonal recipes for free! Stay tuned in to the socials of programs like SNAP, WIC, and Farmshed to stay informed about the community food system. They often share tips on healthy diets, seasonal eating, and legislation updates, and they even host educational opportunities for you and your family! Food is more than just nutrition, it is also culture and community. If you are interested in seasonal eating but feel overwhelmed, remember you can start with making a small change. It doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference. Start with including seasonal produce when you can; maybe that’s a few times a week, or maybe it’s a few times a month. Your support for local agriculture and sustainable practices makes a difference, no matter how small.