In our times transporting food with long distances is common and we tend to not mind the freshness and nutrients we can get from it.
Back then , people can only plant and harvest specific fruits and vegetables in a certain area with a certain season. Now , our modern technologies allow us to shorten the grow-periods of fruits and vegetables.
Little do we know that one of the basics of farming is to let the crop field rest; it is called following.The purpose of it is for the soil to regain and replenish nutrients. Allowing the soil to actually breathe saves us money for irrigation and chemical fertilizers. This is biblical too.
There’s this ancient term in India which is called ritucharya, a term for eating seasonally.The concept is to break down what you are going to eat during each season to maintain health.
So ,eating by the season has a lot of benefits for us . Here’s why :
- Incredible effects on us
Foods that ripen in their appropriate season and harvesting vegetables during their specific season are more nutritious than those we can buy off season.
One reason for this is because foods that grew out of their season didn’t follow the natural rhythm and indeed has acquired chemical ripening-agent in various forms like gas or liquid-spray. In doing such , mass production is assured. It also protects the food against bacterias and infection when they are being travelled from place to place.
Consuming foods that grow with the season can be a great help to our immune system and maybe that’s what the Almighty’s way of saying “ the reason why that certain fruit and veggie can be found anywhere is for you to eat it because it’s what you need during this kind of season.”
For example , watermelon can be found anywhere during summer. Watermelon is watery and it can literally hydrate us during the dry season. Have you thought about it ? , It makes sense right ?
- Tastier !
Just a quick trivia : Here in the Philippines people who are used to taking care and growing their plants are called as plantito if boy and plantita if girl. It’s just a fun way of saying that he or she is into plants.
If you are like them try to notice the home grown food vs those we can buy from the store. You will then realize your home grown is even tastier than what you can buy from the grocery.
This is because those that we can buy from the grocery store didn’t mature well.
- Better for the surrounding of Locals
Patronizing what our country has to offer can help us track the seasonal foods .
Foods that travel long-distances can affect the quality and appearance of it . Aside from this , it also consumes fuel and can contribute to air pollution.
Buying from locals can also support farmers which they really need plus it is organic!
Or , why don’t you just try to grow your own ? it’s therapeutic 🙂 and will kind of give you a rewarding feeling seeing your plant bear fruit.
- Affordable
High demand + low supply= high price.
But the abundance of food and vegetables costs us cheaply. Because farmers would rather earn small than nothing at all . They wouldn’t just let their crops be rotten.
So , this might be some sort of a tip: When you try to be healthy while saving money , You might want to try to buy fruits and vegetables during their season.
Lists of Some Fruits during their Season on Philippines :
January
- Chico
- Dalandan
- Papaya
- Suha
- Kaimito/mangosteen
February
- Avocado
- Chico
- Dalandan
- Papaya
- Suha
- Mangosteen
March
- Avocado
- Duhat
- Langka
- Papaya
- Mangosteen
April
- Avocado
- Kamatsile
- Balimbing
- Duhat
- Kasuy
- Langka
- Melon
- Papaya
- SIniguelas
- Watermelon
May
- Avocado
- Kamatsile
- Balimbing
- Duhat
- Makopa
- Kasuy
- Langka
- Mango
- Melon
- Papaya
- Pinya
- Siniguelas
- watermelon
June
- Avocado
- Kamatsile
- Balimbing
- Duhat
- Makopa
- Guava
- Mango
- Melon
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Calamansi
- SIniguelas
- Watermelon
July
- Avocado
- Kamatsile
- Banana
- Balimbing
- Kamias
- Guava
- Melon
- Papaya
- Dalandan
- Calamansi
- Pineapple
- Santol
- Watermelon
August
- Kamias
- Durian
- Mabolo
- Guava
- Lanzones
- Papaya
- Calamansi
- Santol
- Guyabano
September
- Kamias
- Durian
- Mabolo
- Guava
- Lanzones
- Papaya
- Calamansi
- Santol
- Guyabano
- Atis
October
- Tiesa
- Mabolo
- Durian
- Guava
- Lanzones
- Dalandan
- Papaya
- Calamansi
- Guyabano
- Atis
- Sampaloc
November
- Tiesa
- Guava
- Lanzones
- Dalandan
- Papaya
- Guyabano
- Atis
- Sampaloc
December
- Dalandan
- Papaya
- Atis
- Sampaloc
Banana can be eaten all year round!
