About Fresh Produce

Fresh produce should be part of a healthy diet. Enjoying fresh produce brings us back to eating naturally. The nutrients they provide cannot be matched by any processed food. There are many things to consider with fresh produce, such as where and how it was grown. Make fresh produce a major part of daily meals for the improvement of your health and well-being.

Benefits

• Eating fresh produce gives you with the optimum level of nutrients that a food can provide. Oranges and strawberries contain vitamin C, avocados contain vitamin E and dark leafy greens provide vitamins A and C and calcium. When a food is fresh, it is in its most natural form. This is superior to canned foods, which may contain excess sodium or sugar. Fresh produce in season also provides the best flavor. These flavors add excitement and more taste to a healthy meal. Adding arugula to salads provides a unique taste, a citrus marinade can improve the flavor of chicken and tomatoes, cucumbers and avocado can be added to almost any sandwich for extra flavor and nutrition.

Types

• Fresh produce can be categorized in several different ways. Some fruits and vegetables are grown in mass quantities and have been sprayed with pesticides or undergone treatment to produce a product that is more appealing to the eye. This produce is typically sold at large chain supermarkets. Other produce is grown under industrial organic conditions. They meet government requirements for organic products but are grown by commercial companies in mass quantities. You can often find this type of produce at larger health food stores. There is also small farm organic produce, which may or may not be certified; however, this type is of produce is grown by traditional organic practices. Produce of this kind can most often be found at smaller health food stores, farmer's markets and local seasonal farms such as orchards. Always make sure that organic methods were used when purchasing this type of produce.

Geography

• Where our fresh produce comes from is an issue that affects both our health and the environment. Many fruits and vegetables are produced in large quantities and then shipped to other parts of the country or the world. For example, pineapples are grown in Hawaii, cranberries are often grown in the northeastern U.S. and oranges come from Florida and California. In addition, internationally, some avocados come from Chile. Unfortunately, this method of obtaining our produce causes a strain on our environment from the energy used and the product loses some of its nutrients in the shipping process. Produce grown and sold locally in season is the best alternative for reducing environmental impact and improving nutrition.

Features

• Fresh produce is more vibrant in color and is at optimum ripeness. The best produce has very few external blemishes. Each fruit and vegetable has different indicators to determine its ripeness, but generally it should be firm, not hard or mushy. In addition, if you are picking it off the vine it should come off easily without much effort. Fresh produce has a crisp texture and is full of flavor.

Potential

• Eating fresh produce may improve your health. The vitamins and minerals it contains improve the functions of your body, improve the look of skin and hair and support a healthy immune system. The sweetness of fruit makes it a great dessert and substitute for sugar-laden snacks. The fiber in fruits and vegetables keep you full and supports a healthy digestive system. By increasing your intake of fresh produce, you can improve weight loss success, reduce the risk of disease and increase energy.