Hi Hamama Friends!
September is being recognized as National Fruits and Vegetable Month in hopes of bringing some much needed awareness to the health benefits that these nutritious foods can provide for us!
As the seasons change, the availability of certain produce can start to change as well. Summer often means more corn and watermelons while fall is all about the squash and apples!
Let’s use this month to expand our knowledge on fruits and vegetables so that we can continue to make health-conscious decisions. There are so many resources available to us that can help us become more educated about the importance of produce! For example, you can find tables that let you know how much fruit and vegetables you should be consuming daily, the benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables, and even interactive quizzes to reinforce your learning.
To learn more about what vegetables and fruits are in season, checkout this handy produce guide courtesy of the USDA! Currently you’ll find that Rhubarb, Peas, Asparagus and Apricots are all in season. This means that these are the freshest produce available at your supermarket!
Another great way to support the cause is to try shopping at your local farmer’s market or co-op where many of your great neighbors can have some of the freshest, and yummiest fruit and vegetable options! Check out the USDA Local Food Directory to find the nearest Farmers Market near you. The best part is that since it is local, it can reduce our carbon footprint even more than shopping at a large supermarket.
If you’re looking to cut your footprint even more, you can skip the store entirely and try growing your own fruits and vegetables! A great way to start is with our Microgreen Starter Kit which lets you grow microgreens from the comfort of your own home and still provides you with the necessary nutrients and health benefits that you can get from full grown produce. Since you are growing it yourself you can also guarantee that it is as fresh as possible!
Our Green Onion Kit can also help expand the use of your Green Onions so that they are always available to you when you need them. We have a Garlic Greens Kit as well for growing garlic scapes that can be placed on pretty much any dish! So yummy!
Not sure how to incorporate produce into your meals? Check out our Recipe page for some ideas!
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, is educating ourselves on safe food handling! Being able to safely handle, prepare, eat and store your produce is just as important as remembering to incorporate them into your diet.WIC Works has many food safety resources for sharing with and educating participants, including ProducePro resources!
Let’s build our knowledge together in hopes of creating healthier eating habits.
Happy National Fruit and Veggie Month from our team at Hamama!
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