March is National Nutrition Month, and this year, the American Dietetic Association has chosen to focus on increasing fruits and vegetables, a great idea for everyone. Locally grown produce and eating seasonally have proven to be the best ways to get the most nutrition from fruits and veggies. As spring approaches, look for farmer’s markets to start selling asparagus, artichokes, rhubarb, peas, radishes, fava beans and even pineapple and early strawberries. If some of these choices sound too exotic for your tastes, just remember that you’ll never know how good they are unless you try them. Why not get online and grab a few good-looking recipes that include your local offerings, then visit the farmer’s market on a crisp spring morning and pick up your yummy ingredients?

The benefits of shopping locally for produce include a vitamin boost – store-bought veggies tend to travel long distances before they make it to the produce case, losing taste and nutrition along the way. And local produce tends to be more economical. Buy it in small quantities – you can always go back for more – and use only what you need. Or buy in bulk and freeze what you don’t want to use immediately. You’re more likely to get a good deal from local farmers when you buy in bulk and from the same farmers regularly. Getting to know the farmer’s market merchants will serve you well, even going into the summer months. They can suggest ways to use seasonal produce and give you first dibs on the good stuff.