National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month
Details
There are a lot of wacky “food days” out there. (Seriously, who doesn’t love “holidays” to celebrate ice cream sundaes, apple pies, and BLTs? We might need more of those!) But getting behind fresh fruits and vegetables just seems like a good move, health-wise. So, this June, join us as we observe National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month.
This begs the question: How exactly does one celebrate fresh fruits and vegetables?
Here are 5 ways you can show your produce—and your family—a little love!
Go on a “You-Pick” Adventure
Farm to table is an awesome movement. It helps families connect with the source of their food. What better way to connect than to do a little harvesting yourself? But don’t be shocked if all those delicious, fresh-off-the-plant fruits and vegetables don’t make it all the way to your dinner table, or even into your house—a fresh, ripe strawberry might just fall into your mouth on the drive home—what a tragedy!
Visit a Farmers Market
It’s that time of year—farmers markets are in full swing. If you haven’t made it to your local farmers market in awhile (or ever!), now is the time to go because so much is in season and lot of it will be locally grown. Plus, it’s a great place to try something new, without a big investment of moolah, since prices at farmer’s markets tend to be really reasonable. And if you come across a fruit or vegetable you’re curious about, ask the farmer for prep tips. Those who grow it, know it.
Find a farmers market near you
Get Your Fill of Produce
We all know the USDA recommendation is to fill about half our plate with fruits and vegetables, right? That can be challenging, especially when we’re trying to figure out the seemingly age-old “organic versus non-organic” question. The good news is: fresh fruits and veggies are a safe, healthy bet either way. So, whether you buy organic or not, just enjoy!
Learn more about organic foods
Try a New Recipe
If you need a little help getting those seasonal fruits and veggies in (see above), spicing things up with some new recipes can make it a lot easier. Our friends over at Kansas Living magazine teamed up with From the Land of Kansas to provide “Savor the Season” recipes, which have great ideas for all different types of produce.
Get inspired with seasonal recipes
Keep Your Food Fresh
Did you know that families throw away an estimated 15 to 25 percent of all food they buy each year? That’s about 133 billion pounds, or 300 pounds per person each year. That means a family of four literally throws away about $1,484 of food each year. Crazy!
But what if you could up your fruits-and-veggies game by actually eating all that you buy? The folks at University of Nebraska-Lincoln came up with some great tips to reduce your food waste. Some of our favorites for fruits and veggies:
- Don’t diss the unusually shaped ones—Even apples with bumps will be just as juicy and crisp!
- Freeze or can what you won’t use right away—Bonus: You reduce waste now and save time and money later!
- Compost the scraps—Perfect for invigorating your own gardening projects!
Get more ideas to reduce waste in your home.
How will you make the most of your fruits and veggies this June?
