Local Produce: Farmer’s Market

Stay Healthy This Summer With Locally Grown Produce.

Shopping at the Montclair Farmer’s Market will help you achieve your summer health goals! One of the easy ways that can help with maintaining your health is choosing the right fruits for your snack of choice. Snacking is always a good idea – when done properly. Avoid being excessively hungry because too much hunger eventually urges one to binge. Eating small amounts of healthy snacks throughout the day helps to maintain a satisfied appetite.

Fruits are regarded as healthy food not only because most are naturally low in fat and calories, but also they are also loaded with beneficial vitamins, fibers, antioxidants and essential minerals such as potassium. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that eating a diet rich in fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may reduce risk for heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and protect against certain types of cancers. Additionally, fibers contained in the fruits complement your weight management plan because fruit contains high amounts of fiber that help to reduce obesity. The phytochemicals contained in the fruits increase your immunity and help your body fight illnesses.

Alternative options to consuming fresh fruits are dried fruits, fruit cups, even frozen fruit. These provide the same health benefits as those of fresh fruits, so long as you stay away from fruit cups heavy in syrup and dried or frozen fruits doused in sugar. Check the labels for preservatives before purchasing to assure most of the nutrient content remains the same as fresh options. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), dried fruits contain twice as many calories than fresh.

Ever wonder if there is a health difference to over vs. under ripened fruits? There is. Fully ripened fruits are at their peak in flavor and nutrition and contain the highest amount of beneficial vitamins and minerals (and they taste better!).

Fruits, fresh or dried, are even better if you obtain locally produced options. Check your local farmer’s market for locally produced goods that are in-season. Most fruits carried in supermarkets are transported from thousands of miles away, and are picked before they are able to fully ripen. To protect them from spoiling during the transportation, especially if not labeled organic, harmful pesticides and fungicides are applied to the fruits. Such chemicals reduce the beneficial vitamins and antioxidants contained in the fruit and affect your health.

The Montclair Farmer’s Market offers fresh and delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables year round and is located right at the Walnut Street Train Station. The market opens every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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