American consumers are living in an unprecedented time when you can get just about anything you can think of to eat anytime. But is that a good thing? Maybe for certain segments of the food industry, but maybe not for those of us who value freshness and peak nutrients in our food.

If you're settling into a home you bought from Beavercreek homes for sale, or even if you're listing your home so you can move elsewhere, you should check out local sources of food. Read on and learn why.

Sourcing Local Foods

There was a time when most people in Western countries were limited by the seasons as to what they could buy in food markets. For example, you might get a craving for strawberries but you were out of luck if it was December. Not so today. Strawberries are grown somewhere around the globe and shipped to markets by truck, rail, or boat. Most likely, they're sold when they're green, that is, sour and too tough for immediate consumption because they were picked before peak ripeness. In fact, they may need a few days to ripen in your fridge before they're palatable.

We've gotten used to buying unripe food that isn't that tasty, but there are some solid reasons why eating foods in season is better:

• Seasonal food tastes and looks better.
• Seasonal food has more nutrients because the fruits and vegetables have been allowed to ripen naturally rather than being picked before they are ripe.
• Seasonal food is most likely traveling a shorter distance to the market, so does not require a large expenditure of fossil fuels for transport.
• Supporting local food suppliers puts money back into the local economy by creating jobs and keeping local enterprises afloat.
• By supporting local growers, you may be helping to ensure that farmland stays as just that, and doesn't fall to development, either commercial or residential.
• Local growers can tell you more about the food. Find out how the food was raised and something about the cultivar. Perhaps you'll want to raise some of these fruits and vegetables yourself. Quite often, local growers have obtained seeds or cuttings of plants that do well in a particular locality. They may be able to pass on valuable knowledge about so-called heirloom plants that were developed long ago and fell out of production but are well adapted to local soils and climate.

Winter's Top Fresh Foods

While fresh local food can be a challenge to obtain in the winter, you will see certain foods in your produce section that are typically associated with the colder season. Here are some great foods to enjoy this winter, either on their own or in a recipe.

1. Kale - Kale grows well into the cooler months, so it is known mainly as a winter vegetable. It's full of nutrients (Vitamin A, calcium, iron, and magnesium) and is served in a variety of dishes, from stir fry to being the main ingredient for a healthful shake.
2. Pomegranates - Not just a pretty fruit, pomegranate seeds are rich in fiber.
3. Clementines - Clementines are a type of mandarin orange, packed with VItamin C and easy to peel.
4. Brussels Sprouts - Low in calories, Brussels Sprouts have plenty of fiber and protein, as well as vitamins A, C, and B6.
5. Winter Squash - Winter squash includes butternut, acorn, spaghetti squash, and pumpkin. Sold throughout the cooler months after fall harvesting, they all are rich in vitamins.

Our REALTORS® have great tips on what's on the menu around Beavercreek, as well as how to get your home ready to sell. Contact Wright-Patt Realty today.