In-season food typically refers to all types of plant foods that have been harvested shortly before they are sold and consumed. By spending your money on seasonal... 

produce, you can enjoy lower prices, better nutrition, and a fresher taste. Since many people and stores buy in-season food from nearby growers when it's possible, they can also help support local economies and help reduce energy used for transportation and storage.

In some cases, such produce as in-season fruit may still have been shipped, but it's still likely to taste fresher and cost less in the month when it first ripened than after it has been processed and kept in long-term storage. If you want to get the most value for your money, you should consider buying in-season food when you can. At this point, you might ask what types of food you can buy that are seasonal in January.

What In-Season Food Can You Buy in January?

Enjoy the winter bounty with these examples of fruits and vegetables that growers may harvest in January:

January Vegetables

One easy way to remember some tasty vegetables that growers harvest in January might be to think of the letter B. In this case, B can stand for beets, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. All three of these vegetables are pretty versatile and come packed with nutrition.

Beets can be prepared in both sweet and savory dishes too. Even though cabbage doesn't start with a B, it's also harvested through the entire year. You can use cabbage to make a salad, a slaw, pickles, Asian-style marinades, and many hot dishes. Many health experts urge consumers to eat both cooked and raw vegetables for a balanced diet.

January Fruit

You might also be surprised to learn that January is a great time to look for fresh citrus fruit. Citrus fruit includes such mineral- and vitamin-rich choices as oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes. In the United States, Florida, California, Texas, and Arizona produce the most citrus fruit for retail sale. Other Southern and Gulf Coast states also produce some of these popular and delicious fruits in the winter.

If it's not possible for you to buy locally grown citrus fruit, you can at least focus upon buying it in January, when it's in season. You can eat this kind of fruit right out of its peel, in salads, and in desserts. You should enjoy creating citrus dishes that almost taste too good to be good for you.

By focusing upon buying seasonal food, you can enjoy the freshest produce, reduce your grocery bills, and in many cases, help reduce energy consumption and improve the environment. Your smart food choices can even help support your local economy if you try to buy local produce. When it comes to choosing fruit and vegetables, the frugal and eco-conscious choice is also a healthy one for you and your family. Have fun exploring seasonal foods and add more variety to your table.