In nature, everything has its proper place and cycle. That includes the fruitage of the land around us. Somewhere along the way, we got used to eating all things at all times of the year. But naturally, we would only have some foods available in certain seasons.
Artisan foods have a high emphasis on quality rather than quantity. This is why eating locally and with the seasons has become an important part of creating artisan foods. Mass manufacturing and global shipping have allowed people to eat whatever kind of food they wanted, whenever they wanted. But as concern for healthy eating escalates, so does the popularity of artisan foods.
A difference you can taste
At grocery stores, so much of the fruit and vegetable selection is not fresh. Hard fruits are often picked several months and upwards of a year before they are ripe in order to be shipped far distances. So even though you may find some produce that has the right color, it is still technically green, and the flavor is not good. Unfortunately, this makes people dislike certain fruits or vegetables. They think that veggies are gross because they have never truly tasted what it is meant to taste like.
Fortunately, many places have markets that sell locally produced and in-season food, and the trend is getting more and more popular. That is because there are many benefits to eating fresh, in-season food. They include:
The flavor
As mentioned before, many fruits in vegetables in grocery stores are harvested early and shipped from faraway places. Once they arrive at their destination, they can be considered ripe, but the flavor is lacking since it was not permitted to reach maturity while still planted. Buying in-season food provides fresher, sweeter, and perfectly ripe produce that will have a much better flavor than food flown halfway across the world.
Better for our health
The flavor of food is a wonderful benefit that we can enjoy in real-time. But in season, fresh food also provides a longer-lasting benefit. It is good for our health. The nutritional value of fresh food is very high, allowing us to get the full health benefits of the food we consume.
More value for our money
Buying foods in the right season means that you are buying them at their peak in supply, which means that the price will be lower. So not only is in-season food cheaper, but it is also more flavorful and healthier, which means it is all around more valuable for less.
Broadens diets
Have you ever felt like you make the same 6 recipes all the time? As busy, working people, it can be difficult to break from our comfortable and quick routine. It is easy to get stuck in a pattern and buy the same ingredients at the store every week. But buying locally sourced and in-season foods helps break that cycle. It pushes people to leave their comfort zone and try new recipes with new, fresh ingredients, thus, broadening diets.
Better for the environment
Not only is consuming seasonally better for our bodies, but it is also better for the planet. Eating locally cuts down on the miles that food has to travel to reach a consumer. This means less transportation and refrigeration, which ultimately helps reduce CO2 emissions.
Helps grow the local economy
Last but certainly not least, eating and buying locally supports local farmers and helps grow the local economy bringing benefits to the whole community. It also supports shops and restaurants that make an effort to buy locally-grown foods.
Eating seasonally in NYC
With so many benefits, it is no wonder that so many people are turning to local, in-season, artisan food. Although New York is a city full of buildings, there are several options for buying locally sourced food. Many people have even turned to grow food on their rooftops for the most local food options of all.
Where to buy locally sourced food
In the state of New York, there are more than 400 farmer’s markets and 250 farm stands. More than 50 of these farmer’s markets are found in the city of New York throughout all its boroughs. What are some of the most popular farmer’s markets? Here are a few of them:
- GrowNYC Union Square Greenmarket
- 79th Street Greenmarket
- 57th Street Greenmarket
This market is open year-round on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. It includes various small farms and artisan food producers.
This market is open on Sundays year-round and offers various small-batch food producers.
Find this market open Wednesdays and Saturdays with various local, small farm produce.
What to buy
When are certain foods in season in New York? Here is a small guide:
- May: asparagus, chard, green onions
- June: beets, cabbage, corn
- July: blueberries, cherries, eggplant
- August: celery, currants, pears
- September: pumpkins, shelling beans
- October: fennel, cranberries
- November: brussels sprouts, kale, turnips
- December: potatoes, squash
Local Artisan Producers
The good news is that more and more people are starting to create artisan foods. They handcraft high-quality, unique food in small batches while keeping traditional methods alive. You can find many artisan food places in New York city itself.
Conclusion
Artisan foods focus on quality versus quantity which is why they use locally grown, in-season ingredients. Eating foods that are in season provides an abundance of benefits, including better flavors and more nutritional value. NYC offers markets that sell locally produced foods, as well as many places that present delicious artisan food products.