Imagine plucking a luscious bright red organic strawberry right off the vine, and popping it into your mouth. That juicy sweetness explodes on your tongue as you bite down, and you can almost feel the vitality of the just-picked fruit lighting up every cell of your body.
Now imagine taking a strawberry from a plastic wrapped carton – a strawberry that’s been trucked in from several states away, and has been languishing on a store shelf for days. Where’s that same life force and vitality? Unfortunately, the longer the amount of time between when produce is harvested, and you eat it, the more nutrients that are lost.
“Buy Local” bumper stickers are sprouting up on cars across the nation, and for good reason. When you buy produce from organic farms and co-ops in your area, you’re not only supporting the local economy – you’re getting your fruits and vegetables at the peak of their most nutrient-dense freshness. You’re also staying in touch with the natural rhythms of the Earth by eating produce that’s in season.
Another reason to stick with in-season local vegetables and fruits – you’re keeping the air cleaner since the produce didn’t arrive at your store after a long haul via a network of trucks.
We at the Optimum Health Institute definitely make sure our guests have the freshest organic local fruits, sprouts and vegetables, and grow many of them in our own gardens. It’s also easy to find an organic farmer’s market, or organic stores in your area. Just Google it, you can even ask your local organic food store where they purchase their produce. Here are the just-picked in-season favorites to look for now:
Vegetables
Artichokes, arugula, asparagus, avocados, beans, green, cactus pads, cardoons, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, chicory, cucumbers, dandelion greens, eggplant, endive, fava beans, fava greens, fennel, garlic, green garlic, herbs, horseradish, jicama, kale, lambsquarters, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, nettles, onions, okra, pea shoots, peas, potatoes, purslane, radishes, rhubarb, scallions, shallots, spinach, sprouts, turnips.
Fruits
Apricots, apriums, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cactus pears, cherimoyas, cherries, grapefruit, guavas, kumquats, lemons, limes, loquats, mandarins, nectarines, oranges, peaches, plums, pluots, raspberries, strawberries, tayberries.
For leafy green vegetables, avoid bunches with yellowed leaves, or discard any yellowed tips before eating. Bacteria can get into the plant through the plant’s pores and turn the tissue yellow. Check fruit for bruises, which indicates it may spoil more quickly.
Check back often for updates on finding, preparing and eating organic foods. At Optimum Health Institute , we serve a variety of raw-live foods, juice fasting, and wheatgrass to promote restoring your body to its natural balance. Our meals do not contain nuts or oils, which can hinder the detoxification process.
When your body, mind, and spirit are aligned, you can achieve good health. If you are looking for a holistic healing program, in San Diego or Austin, visit Optimum Health Institute . We can help you achieve your mental, physical, emotional and spiritual goals for optimal health. Call us at (800) 993-4325 to learn more.
