Just as the fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables disappear from tables farther north, Florida’s bountiful winter harvest starts. Think about serving Florida-grown, fresh foods during this holiday season. Many of the fruits and vegetables recommended for your Five-A-Day are available all winter long in Florida. Here are just a few of the many choices you have right now.

Salad greens and all the “fixings” – cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, radishes – are available throughout the state.

• Tangerines, oranges, grapefruit – all of the citrus family – are abundant and readily available and make for healthy desserts and snacks. Make sure you try some of the lesser known varieties that usually do not reach the supermarket shelf.


• Broccoli, cauliflower, sweet corn, carrots, snap beans, squash, and eggplant are just some of the great options for side dishes for holiday meals. While local availability varies, several of these easy-to-prepare vegetables are abundant all winter long in every part of the state.
  

You may want to buy locally grown produce. It’s fresh and if you visit a farmers’ market or farm, you can turn shopping into a family outing.

One good place to get locally grown produce is your local farmers’ market. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) provides a list of farmers’ markets throughout Florida. Many farmers’ markets offer handicrafts, Christmas trees, and other seasonal items, in addition to the usual produce, during the holiday season.

Some farmers also offer U-Pick. These are farms where you can harvest your produce yourself, making shopping into a family adventure. FDACS also provides a list of U-Pick farms, by county.

By Dr Mickie Swisher, Associate Professor, Sustainable Agriculture