Pears, Pears, Pears
A couple of weeks ago the title would have been Peaches, Peaches, Peaches. Or next week it would be Grapes, Grapes, Grapes. One lesson that I am learning as I work on various gardens and farms is the timing and seasonality of produce. And despite, grapes, pears, and peaches, etc. being available in the supermarket year round, they really aren’t in season year round. I’ve always known this but never fully thought about seasonality’s impacts and consequences. While, it is easy as consumers to ignore the seasonality of our food, there are plenty of reasons why we should care.
Eating fresh produce that is in season is healthier for us. I could site numerous studies that point to the nutrient depletion that happens the longer that produce waits between harvest and consumption. For example Vitamin C losses in vegetables stored at 4°C for 7 days range from green peas losing 15% of their Vitamin C to green beans that lose 77% of their Vitamin C.
Eating local and in season produce is better for the environment. There is no denying the benefits of the innovations that have allowed us to eat a variety of fresh produce year round. Because of food preservation technology, transportation improvements, and the development of a world economy, we are able to eat food from all around the world by just taking one visit to our local supermarket. The downside is that the transportation of food takes fossil fuels to get that food from point A to B. And this isn’t just with international food. Studies have shown extensive food travel from food that is grown in the same country but still have extensive road travel to make their way through distribution networks. Eating produce bought at local farmers markets or through a local CSA can minimize your food’s footprint.
Eating in season can be better for our wallet. If you have ever been to the supermarket in the peak of summer in sweet corn season you may remember the glorious two-three week period where you can buy corn on the cob for 10cents a pop. This is because of what we all know as supply and demand. When you prioritize purchasing fruits and vegetables that are in season, you are more likely to be able to find deals like the 10cent corn on the cob.
It’s nearly impossible to really grasp this lesson when every time we walk into the grocery store we have no problem finding bananas, apples, plums etc. no matter the time of year. As consumers, we are sheltered from the seasonality of our food. We are used to having access to what we want when we want it. But, nature doesn’t work that way. When it’s peach season that tree is ready overnight and the next day, the gardener/farmer/producer has to be ready for hundreds of peaches all at once.
For the past several weeks I have enjoyed learning the art of juicing, jamming, pickling, baking, eating, giving away, and a number of other activities that have filled my days with figuring out how to not let amazing, home grown produce go to waste. I am helping to manage only a couple of hedges of grapes and a couple of apple trees, but I can’t help but think about the farms that are growing fruits and vegetables at scale.
So next time you are picking up a peach in the middle of the winter, think back to the peach that you had in the summer that tasted truly magical. The peach you are about to eat, will taste nothing like that. Either because it has been stored for too long, or picked before it was ripe and shipped across the world to put it in your hands. Maybe it is worth waiting for the perfect summer peach.
