Seasonal products are better for your health, have more flavour, cost less and are more sustainable... So for a simple solution next time you go shopping– don’t just go organic - go seasonal organic!

How do you really know what you are buying is fresh when you stock up this season?

While it is now a known fact that organic fresh produce gives you more nutrients than non-organic, organic consumers can get more again by eating ‘in tune’ with local production cycles. Shane Heaton, BFA nutritionist, says “Choosing organics offers you an easy way to eat seasonal produce, as organic food is picked at optimum ripeness, and stored for shorter periods of time.  “Studies have shown that the longer fresh produce sits in storage the more nutritional benefits it loses – fresh really is best, and fresh organic is even better!”

He says that picking some fruit when green can also decrease its nutritional value. “Particularly with stone fruit such as peaches - when peaches are picked green, they have very small to zero amounts of Vitamin C, however when picked ripe, their Vitamin C levels are extremely high,” he says.

Mrs Jacqueline O’Reilly, from O’Reilly’s Orchards (Laura, SA) says that Christmas time is perfect for buying fresh organic fruit. And following the same strategy, swapping complicated Christmas recipes that require out of season produce, for fresh organic is better for you: “Organic fruits to look out for when planning your Christmas table are cherries, plums, peaches and apricots. All of these organic fruits should taste delicious, picked at the optimum stage of ripeness, when the flavour of the fruit is at its sweetest and best.”

At the same time seasonal costs less than out of season food because it is produced and sold avoiding long transport and stocking. This also means that their production is more sustainable causing less impact to the environment.

In summary, seasonal products are better for your health, have more flavour, cost less and are more sustainable. So for a simple solution next time you go shopping– don’t just go organic - go seasonal organic!

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More information about this topic in our food and drink section.

Written by Sarah Wooldrage