Celebrate Summer

While the Summer Solstice is still two and a half weeks away (June 20), many people consider Memorial Day the unofficial start of summer. The kids are out of school, the days are longer, and the weather is getting warmer. 

One of the great things about this time of year is the abundance of fresh, locally grown produce. There's nothing more satisfying and delicious than picking a fruit or vegetable and eating it at that moment. Maybe you have a garden in your backyard and can relate. Cherry tomatoes, fresh off the vine and warm from the sun, taste like summer to me. 

Even if you don't have your own garden, this is the time of year when farmers' markets are popping up, and many local farms offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares. Find a CSA in your area at Local Harvest.

Along with better flavor, produce is more nutritious and has higher levels of antioxidants, vitamins, folate, and carotenes when harvested at its peak. When you buy out-of-season produce, it often has to travel long distances, meaning fruits and veggies are picked before they are ripe, causing a loss of nutrients right from the moment of harvest.

Buying locally grown foods can also be more affordable, as you purchase produce that is at the peak of its supply when it's easier to grow and harvest. Additionally, you support your community. For instance, when you purchase strawberries from a local farm, the money you spend is reinvested in your community, helping it remain healthy and thrive.

Eating seasonally is also more sustainable. When fruits and vegetables are forced to grow outside their natural seasons, farmers often resort to chemicals and other methods to ensure that out-of-season harvests meet the cosmetic standards that consumers expect. Produce that has to travel long distances contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. For tips on eating seasonally, check out my social media posts on Fridays throughout the summer. 

Another thing I love about this time of year is spending more time outdoors. I hike year-round, but when summer arrives, I also start practicing yoga in the park or on a paddleboard, swimming in the lake, and biking. I move my office outside and work on my computer on our deck. Other activities, such as concerts and sporting events, are also held outdoors in the summer. All this time spent outside can boost vitamin D levels.

I'm particularly excited for this summer because not only am I finally heading to Croatia, which has been on my travel bucket list for a long time, but there are some exciting changes on the horizon. I'll tell you more about those next week.